This applet models an election with several candidates jockeying for position to maximize their votes. It's greatly simplified from reality, but demonstrates phenomena that really do happen. In an election, an educated voter will vote for the candidate that's closest to them politically. The big square represents the political positions of the voting public, who are evenly distributed. The colored dots are the candidates.
Bigger territories mean more votes.
Things to do Drag the candidates around the field, and see how the voting percentages change for different layouts. Try this with different numbers of candidates. Run the simulation, and the candidates will move in directions to maximize their territory. A pattern will usually stabilize. Different numbers of candidates give rise to different stable patterns.