To my mind it’s earlier-submitted entries that have the advantage – if a sub is good enough for the voting to, on net, be positive then the longer it can be seen for the more of a lead it’ll build up over what comes later. But that only applies for normal entries, not the ones with the backing of a group of co-ordinated voters.

In the case of exploitative voting, slipping it in at the last moment and quickly all voting it up is the best strategy, but only because you’ve got that dedicated group of voters behind it.

Separate the submission period from the voting period imo. Eliminates bandwagon effects, blocks last minute rushes and ensures that everything is available for voting for the same amount of time.