Remainers turn to data science for tactical votes push

The Remainers have turned the tables on Cambridge Analytica – the organisation which it is claimed used data analytics to influence the Brexit vote – by launching a data science-led tactical voting initiative.
The main thrust of the campaign is a new website, RemainVoter.com, which promises to identify the best tactical voting options to stop candidates from Nigel Farage’s Brexit party winning a seat.
According to “team leader” and former Google software engineer Cheryl Hung the site has adopted a new mathematical model to power a tactical voting engine for the European elections,
“We are entirely non-party political,” said Hung. “Our sole aim is to remain in the EU as we see the damage that leaving it will do to our country. We understand that party politics, political reality and technical factors prevented a pro-Remain alliance. We are asking people to join forces, get together and make their vote count so their voice can be heard.
“Nigel Farage might be telling everyone he has it all sewn up but together, as Remain voters, we can be a real force for good.”
RemainVoter.com’s goal is to secure Remain parties the highest number of overall seats in the European Parliament.
The group has no political ties, no links to established Remain campaigns and no other funding – and early indications are that the Lib Dems, Greens, Change UK, the SNP and Plaid Cymru will all feature in the regional recommendations. As things stand, Hung said Remain parties could return just seven MEPs to Brussels.
She added: “We are behind all-pro Remain parties We are cutting through the heat and noise of party politics and letting the data provide clarity for Remain voters. We are conscious of the responsibility that we have, so transparency is critical.
“We use independent polling data, and the algorithms will be open sourced so anyone can verify the recommendations for themselves.”