In papal conclaves of years past, it was common for cardinals to waste their vote during the first round on someone they colloquially considered could never actually be elected pope...
[Conclave in 1334] An early favorite among the papabile was Cardinal Jean-Raymond de Comminges. However, on the first round of voting the obvious throw-away candidate was Cardinal Jacques Fournier, described as “lightly regarded because of his obscure origin and lack of wealth and following.” Intending to see how their fellow cardinals were voting, eleven of the sixteen unknowingly cast their ballots for the same candidate, Cardinal Fournier, giving him the majority vote.