Introduction:

What is a voting ring: In this context, the algorithm works by finding the ratio of common votes (among a group of users) over the sum of uncommon votes and total votes. High ratios are potential rings. (This is an early stage algorithm, please do not be concerned or offended if your name is included in a potential ring. Nobody is accusing you of anything.)

The Vote Ring Detection Algorithm is commonly used on social media platforms which involve systems of upvoting (Eg. points on Reddit) and with the stakes even more valuable when real money is involved, this seems like a natural application of the algorithm to determine if we can crack down on voting rings on Steemit.

This is my first trial of such a hypothesis and the results of my experiment are below. Please note that I have queried the most recent 100 'active' posts on Steemit. A larger sample size would of course be more intuitive but the steem api did not seem to permit larger sizes. I am open to suggestions as to a better criteria to filter on. Most recent posts was not suited as there was often zero or very few upvotes on the posts by this stage. Furthermore, hot posts tend to dilute the voting rings which makes them less significant. So for now I have opted for the "active" criteria.

Overview of method:

1. query steem api and get 100 hits.
2. prepare these hits into a csv format with python script for the voting collusion algorithm to then process.
3. receive algorithms output and prepare the data for this post!

The results:

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Ring # 1 found: http://www.steemit.com/bitcoin/@craig-grant/ethereum-bitcoin-monero-dash-and-steem-with-morning-coffee

Ring Size	Votes in Ring	Votes outside Ring	Ratio
134	134	0	1

User in this ring: @saryan, @partrician1, @thebookofuma, @vinayakn, @archerbest, @rhonob, @boren, @yoto, @steemitwahine, @bearone, @sambo-rambo, @glasnicce.shoots, @chitty, @gardenlady, @piedpiper, @dimimp, @beervangeer, @mammasitta, @mctiller, @michaellamden68, @britvr, @kakradetome, @riscadox, @jackkang, @furion, @nepalipahad, @exyle, @shredlord, @james212, @ajay555, @mondeja, @alsprinting, @krabgat, @npl77, @rznag, @youngkim, @ap2002, @elena000, @almerri, @awgbibb, @telos, @andrewawerdna, @nick1989, @daniel82, @trendwizard, @holoz0r, @noggfresh, @totosky, @lifebyadam, @heroic15397, @makis84, @insteadofmoney, @steemsports, @steemtv, @steemvoter, @muks, @carlosgarcia, @soundlegion, @sdwahine, @steeming4, @mornevd, @dragon40, @prezident0001, @roydowding, @sebastianjago, @mattandcristina, @ryanthegecko, @mytechcrunch, @corvuscoraxx, @dovetail, @ligrev, @marcelbraendle, @steemian69, @saikababii, @ceres, @hebrew, @anwarabdullah, @maryfavour, @ghostwriter82, @boxmining, @harleymechanix, @kyoubrian, @malonmar, @cryptokid003, @torem-di-torem, @andrianna, @blackamine, @albertoyago, @adamhole, @datkrazykid, @fatboyjames, @bloomberg215, @nschairer, @topsnav, @buster544, @bryguy, @sqamemal, @greencrypto, @gordonovich, @meme.for.steem, @sorinagt, @artemisia, @instantcoin, @popponayashelly, @doc-speakeasy, @abcdoctor, @raffael, @stefanarud, @reisolutions, @thomasaquinasftw, @rlh100, @skytrex, @cryptocat, @rizasukma, @ijoel, @futuristgear, @licklake, @newprepper, @haywiree, @alexanderglass, @roomservice, @cryptoactive, @lykencrypto, @boyetyamasaki, @cretin, @korinis, @almaamor, @sune-r-h-p, @tizswa, @buguela89, @jigarparmar519, @lupin, @arunava, @steve-speaks

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Ring # 2 found: http://www.steemit.com/chainbb-general/@linuslee0216/let-s-celebrate-just-reach-100-followers-2017613t20455359z

Ring Size	Votes in Ring	Votes outside Ring	Ratio
223	223	1	0.9911111111111112

User in this ring: @thomaskikansha, @chingyi, @brothermic, @crypt07, @chaudhry, @stay9n0, @aaronli, @danielle13, @dim1331, @berkah, @xeldal, @adol, @hr1, @xeroc, @steem-id, @lovejoy, @nenad-ristic, @hipster, @instructor2121, @pal, @lola-carola, @blakemiles84, @pangur-ban, @dana-varahi, @tee-em, @michaelx, @albertogm, @crok, @tyler-fletcher, @razvanelulmarin, @venuspcs, @sgtechservices, @good-karma, @roelandp, @nerdlab, @stranger27, @gatoso, @on0tole, @anasya, @vl248, @sveokla, @marinabogumil, @cloh76, @dwinblood, @condra, @raymondspeaks, @kell234, @hyiparena, @rouketas, @fiveboringgames, @konti, @fiona777, @phenom, @bitcoiner, @sharker, @zaebars, @mysteem, @winstonwolfe, @happyphoenix, @kooshikoo, @fatboy, @tygergamer, @bkkshadow, @smailer, @dmilash, @dirty.hera, @gomeravibz, @litrbooh, @always1success, @letc, @brendio, @mama-steem, @yoshiko, @stephen.king989, @uuuhha, @romancs, @ipumba, @krishtopa, @future24, @cmorton, @mythras, @vegascomic, @nano2nd, @dollarvigilante, @anotherjoe, @serejandmyself, @demo, @skylineking88, @ethansteem, @mrlogic, @barrycooper, @sethlinson, @shadowspub, @leno4ek, @nulliusinverba, @charlie777pt, @randomli, @nadin3, @xanoxt, @victoriart, @tatianka, @kralizec, @benjamin.still, @ebargains, @elena-singer, @dexter-k, @charlieshrem, @tracemayer, @feruz, @burnin, @anton333, @ekaterinka, @michelle.gent, @bestofreddit, @worldtraveler, @borishaifa, @okean123, @haphazard-hstead, @fortinbuff, @luzcypher, @grisha-danunaher, @rymlen, @killbis, @htyfn, @rusteemitblog, @ninkhisibir, @orenshani7, @therajmahal, @steemtrail, @marel, @luismy, @steemlift, @marialin, @steemvest17, @astral, @tdv.witness, @ebryans, @jessamynorchard, @max-max, @sstefan, @steemaccess, @garvofe, @innafanz, @hansikhouse, @maxse, @gardening-trail, @foraging-trail, @nikflossus, @baerdric, @alex1983ch, @technovedanta, @esteemapp, @yadamaniart, @ourlifestory, @irawandedy, @steemittalk, @beeskee, @v4vapid, @gildar, @saleg25, @soushi888, @meysam, @steemnews.online, @michaeladamparis, @lastminuteman, @things, @triddin, @cheah, @internutter, @marcosespes1, @fiction-trail, @kostaslou, @jasonrussell, @fbechstein, @poetry-trail, @killinhersoftly, @elgeko, @bounties, @steempoll, @cgame, @blockchained, @ogochukwu, @paolobeneforti, @maninayton, @cfreidsma, @torkot, @libertylol, @frocush, @vadbars, @carbunco10, @heikomahr, @mckenziegary, @crawfish37, @unmean-stweets, @steemfactory, @singa, @tipping, @thecrazygm, @sidwrites, @leanvix, @itchykitten, @tremendospercy, @reconnectnature, @lenadr, @readmore, @gohba.handcrafts, @tj4real, @vaibhavshah, @taica, @xenitron, @royalko, @jimsparkle, @nuagnorab, @victorier, @linuslee0216, @petkovski, @ercpok, @chl, @zenprogressive, @minnyfatty, @fzfred, @droucil, @shirish5

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Ring # 3 found: http://www.steemit.com/steemit/@meesterboom/unstoppable-an-animation

Ring Size	Votes in Ring	Votes outside Ring	Ratio
306	306	0	1

User in this ring: @fatkid, @shirrou, @amvanaken, @bewe, @adhoctoth, @jaymacvapes, @amristeem, @jerrev, @jaynectar, @anzhu, @bufferxtech, @avikal, @stervocka, @bitsbetrippin, @minhaj.zee, @finance2nomad, @jimybpt, @kenshiu, @slackerstacker, @hashbrown, @gasser484, @avercetti, @mrilevi, @ritualjunkie, @demco, @alejotorress, @shadowmonk, @djbk, @cbennett94, @oxicleanedjamal, @cryptovest, @karmamichele, @cryptogaming, @inalav, @sandy143007, @nhuanvolter, @princekhiwaliya, @bernardrussell, @umit, @jasnxxx, @shawnpady, @hussnainrazakhan, @sohaib1, @sneakydevill, @niallsemple, @unipaint, @humannature, @proctologic, @yefet, @makishart, @gregory-f, @nomoreheroes7, @cyan91, @gavvet, @richman, @avarice, @acidyo, @hossary, @steve-walschot, @klye, @oaldamster, @cryptofunk, @dragonslayer109, @thecryptodrive, @peter-parker, @infovore, @mark-waser, @norbu, @grey580, @juanmora, @matt-a, @yogi.artist, @cryptochannel, @slowwalker, @jacor, @steemit-life, @senseiteekay, @alone, @speda, @igster, @meesterboom, @juvyjabian, @gregm, @hastla, @kendewitt, @the-future, @mynameisbrian, @sgnsteems, @opheliafu, @jens84, @sauravrungta, @crazymumzysa, @ace108, @michaeldodridge, @sazbird, @bullionstackers, @walkerlv, @nekromarinist, @theprophet0, @merej99, @reneenouveau, @andrew0, @lenatramper, @joele, @denisoi, @theabsolute, @hanshotfirst, @lordvader, @bledarus, @wakeupjohnny, @wisbeech, @tolik8080, @creadordelfuturo, @levycore, @englishtchrivy, @jlufer, @uwelang, @davidjkelley, @digital-wisdom, @ethical-ai, @matthewtiii, @triplep, @jwaser, @mixacool, @damarth, @bwaser, @renzoarg, @cleateles, @bontonstory, @ellepdub, @pickoum, @herpetologyguy, @ocrdu, @s0u1, @lajulius, @morgan.waser, @bonvivan, @awesomenyl, @strong-ai, @projectnewbie, @ivand83, @tata.lucette, @bleujay, @lydon.sipe, @aldentan, @wakeupsheeps, @giantbear, @keuudeip, @mokluc, @joshuaatiemo, @eroche, @whatageek, @johnrenald, @crowdfundedwhale, @trans-juanmi, @collabornation, @technoprogressiv, @damiendecoster, @finder, @tradeqwik, @enju614, @dreemit, @juliosalas, @madlenfox, @colin-porter, @fibra59, @riostarr, @inber, @lazariko12, @sardrt, @automaton, @fisteganos, @da-dawn, @eem, @mariaalmeida, @tiowaldecir, @buzzbeergeek, @fleur, @decentralizd, @elementm, @lunatichai, @steemlifestyle, @eddiejmc51, @timvloggt, @muhammadrizal, @btu, @robert-call, @trevis, @zuheimi, @emonandels, @couch-potato, @carloserp2000, @connecteconomy, @natorious, @dracosalieri, @detlev, @myvoter, @qwesttexas, @skririm, @looftee, @fingersik, @razorborn, @steveitt, @marxrab, @cryptodragon313, @ctrl-alt-nwo, @crazykipps, @hackerwhacker, @rolf.bakker, @contentguy, @graveric60, @dankh, @passion-fruit, @david777111, @betag, @richard78624, @queenpine, @c86l, @billyjohnsonart, @wonka, @sighmanjestah, @minotaura, @cobramovin, @dazanar, @mandagoi, @etcbits, @papascrubs, @clysse, @jznsamuel, @eliel, @indepthstory, @ericwoelk, @stadsmanneke, @hebro, @user786, @laloelectrix, @elprofe62, @youknow212012, @scottish01, @bnt, @budimir, @recrypto, @matiasrodrigo, @uruiamme, @mk40, @datosin, @patasieduagh, @cityofzanj, @arqetype, @ally1of4, @vmsolutionsltd, @ubertec, @carwilva, @frostyamber, @babes-mm, @gichan, @justcallmemyth, @warriorlion, @yaoyeguard, @flepmajoor, @chrisx, @skyrex, @azethine, @doughnutsmuggler, @tonygags, @enomujjass, @pf-coin, @debugger, @sahar.meshkin, @dxgam, @mintsauce, @ridi20, @dattabitcoin, @jungleebitcoin, @king-aceh, @jony, @ritsjert, @shehryar, @hintenberg, @oromisglaedr, @nickdavison, @digitizemycash, @capitalpink, @scribblexio, @digital-gypsy, @coinmeister, @gose, @john1981, @skaylap, @tuakanamorgan, @edb1984, @cantribute, @v0nd, @anacristinasilva, @joecoleman, @mcfelix15, @aworandx, @qzsg, @minjun, @paugamit, @infidel100, @surgeo, @kenhudoy, @chedo, @diverse-thinker, @johnlue

---

Ring # 4 found: http://www.steemit.com/steem/@leesunmoo/successtrainer

Ring Size	Votes in Ring	Votes outside Ring	Ratio
149	149	0	1

User in this ring: @inverse, @woojin, @mooncat4289, @jingdol, @muyoung, @sophiamom, @signalandnoise, @vip, @morning, @ninzacode, @leesunmoo, @jay4u, @btcbtcbtc20155, @sokoloffa, @lsc9999, @kview, @kopasi, @ssm1810, @tommycoin, @stylo, @jyp, @inchonbitcoin, @dubi, @ksc, @sigizzang, @arama, @twinbraid, @lhy, @kachinhenry, @sanghkaang, @chromium, @very, @dongu, @superremnant, @july01, @votelotto, @steemexwon, @foodmap, @steem-myanmar, @gotoperson, @neojew, @neogia, @cljg918, @abduhawab, @yuslindwi, @gifmaster, @mandela, @intrepidthinker, @anemona, @jondahl, @behappy7, @seongbuk, @gogumacat, @m8586, @bitcoinsig, @onizuka, @coinkorea, @fernandam, @jazznism, @maa, @goldenman, @jongyeong, @thatgermandude, @ludorum, @toru, @martin007, @tworld, @kskarthik, @changkyun07, @venti, @cherryblossoms, @ludorum-pick, @innovit, @bosman, @daystar, @insic, @ihsan, @pys, @palejack, @koreaculture, @toran, @escher, @temps88, @musicholic, @pyorinho, @maruchi, @teora, @lastofw, @shinidanitv, @ki844, @leomichael, @jeongmincha, @jaguarb612, @toptimist, @nemjun, @jonver, @kaliam, @mattchoi, @gunchul, @usim, @uplus, @choind, @waystobecalm, @freshstuff, @rdccsteem, @acceptkim, @soyo, @boostyou, @danbain, @teojin0503, @oldtaste, @successtrainer, @ghana531, @ammonoidea, @krdoko, @hangeul, @sbg, @yoona7487, @leesongyi, @dmy, @kim0jh0, @sunnnside, @coinist, @zusteemit, @azathoth1942, @iieeiieeii, @philipkoon, @benniebanana, @yoons, @huchu, @laivla, @geusgod, @bemore, @tuvero, @steemit-korea, @steemfuzzy, @meadowolf, @minsa66, @heejin, @no1wolf, @beajinsu, @yidar, @nkc79, @korecaster, @pald, @zweiblue, @snow-airline, @foooodman, @kyongkyulee

---

Ring # 5 found: http://www.steemit.com/blockchain/@mericanhomestead/my-last-youtube-video-freeing-my-subscribers-you-don-t-have-to-be-held-hostage-anymore

Ring Size	Votes in Ring	Votes outside Ring	Ratio
158	158	0	1

User in this ring: @rafael1983, @dwells, @lovleacloud, @pennsif, @pennies, @mongosmash, @jtitus07, @beatitudes8, @pizzamacgyver, @warriormom, @jarobbins11, @hopespringsetrnl, @essentialoilmom, @mamahubbard, @joce289, @gulfcoastgardner, @gordoe, @joshua-1, @chikkadea, @jeremiad, @k1k1, @hotham, @northofatlanta, @tuck-fheman, @nikolai, @full-measure, @arcaneinfo, @artem-sokoloff, @tommyquest, @ausbitbank, @fulltimegeek, @khursani, @bitland, @krystle, @adamt, @animus, @bola, @arcurus, @papa-pepper, @brianphobos, @jasonstaggers, @tommycordero, @jhonprinces, @joshsigurdson, @themonetaryfew, @runridefly, @sammie, @daveks, @freeinthought, @ghasemkiani, @titusfrost, @allyouneedtoknow, @yuriks2000, @rigaronib, @inarix03, @lucashunter, @wakeupworldnews, @ianstrat, @shady, @geggi632, @chromiumone, @kennethbosak, @tigercats, @little-peppers, @a-condor, @ijavee, @azlicr, @honusurf, @macstyly, @eyeofthestorm, @sawang, @plainof6glaciers, @estronitex, @pbock, @mutant-x, @toniesteem, @grandpa-pepper, @truthceeker333, @charxrid, @moksamol, @patrickmohr, @froghollow, @dune69, @makecents, @omninova, @nap-g, @roadkill, @joklahoma, @barbara-orenya, @garden-to-eat, @greenacrehome, @schlees, @eggmeister, @opinizeunltd, @scorchdojo, @shahzadnisar, @jiva34, @thelemicdragon93, @rohnsleather, @robc, @nristen, @countryprepper, @greyman, @thelionwithinus, @securedcomputer, @cheapassbastard, @timmo3663, @urbansimplicity, @raincountry, @bucko, @gregorythomas, @mkcmst, @saved4newlife, @simms50, @daddykirbs, @mygraymatter, @drprepper, @lifewright, @unclemike, @gardener, @ironshield, @papermill2006, @bthompson, @jacoblesterread, @marillaanne, @stormriderstudio, @bernz78, @benzomatic, @maxdevalue, @lokii, @henaynei, @beyondmountains, @travelersmemoire, @afhusna786, @theywillkillyou, @whytedragons, @gyanibilli, @bakermom, @dafinds, @nolongerignored, @benjust123, @freetissues, @engineertomas, @sandhillson, @thehomesteadlife, @raynewman729, @ernstjan, @minighomestead, @jenwen, @stortebeker, @olinweisz, @gregandsandyk, @agilblade, @flightgod, @piggypower, @nuedareniel, @blaze007, @inanna

---

Ring # 6 found: http://www.steemit.com/introduceyourself/@marle718/hola-comunidad-de-steemit

Ring Size	Votes in Ring	Votes outside Ring	Ratio
47	47	1	0.9591836734693876

User in this ring: @etnique, @jupiter5, @marle718, @ivan-perez-anies, @juanmiguelsalas, @heiditravels, @avellana, @twinner, @gargon, @pgarcgo, @wartrapa, @efrageek, @moisesmcardona, @albagargon, @joaquinpixan, @nomadnessie, @crowe, @titin, @betamusic, @jgcastrillo19, @juliamateo, @teo, @dresden, @alfredozofio, @dulcinea, @mdcomes, @cervantes, @aniestudio, @assus, @jorlenbolivar, @tamim, @loreennaa, @teacher, @tincho, @fidel-castro, @mckenzie259, @acromott, @clacrax, @osmerj, @gmaktub, @oscarcc89, @kilianmiguel, @bwmiao, @adipranatahendi, @joseluishimself, @lrsm13, @cindycam

Please let me know what you think of this experiment and help come up with better ways I can improve it to accurately eliminate voting rings from Steem! :)

Also please comment, vote and resteem if you found this post interesting :)