The context that a racing game will be sidelined for the GoTY award no matter how well it reviews. Same as a certain fighting game in someones Top 5 list
They're vastly different. A public poll depends on who cared enough to vote lmao. Like, for example, I didn't
Public votes are like how many fanboys got there in time to vote vs how many people are actively playing and supporting a game, and we know how the curve is dropping for Halo on Steam despite it being Free toooo play