diff --git a/substrate/frame/staking/src/lib.rs b/substrate/frame/staking/src/lib.rs
index ca3fb51ecb74919fe775fd320fd61bb132f4c7b8..489070dca0260bd70a5d1d7e6a044a4bd596db25 100644
--- a/substrate/frame/staking/src/lib.rs
+++ b/substrate/frame/staking/src/lib.rs
@@ -2338,6 +2338,9 @@ impl<T: Trait> Module<T> {
 		// candidates.
 		let snapshot_length = <SnapshotValidators<T>>::decode_len()
 			.map_err(|_| Error::<T>::SnapshotUnavailable)?;
+
+		// check the winner length only here and when we know the length of the snapshot validators
+		// length.
 		let desired_winners = Self::validator_count().min(snapshot_length as u32);
 		ensure!(winners.len() as u32 == desired_winners, Error::<T>::PhragmenBogusWinnerCount);
 
diff --git a/substrate/frame/staking/src/mock.rs b/substrate/frame/staking/src/mock.rs
index a34f3425564cdd1b3cf4ec3ceb3194c305540e2e..21400b0b8d4c2fe5c1bb30810f6b6fe58518e0f9 100644
--- a/substrate/frame/staking/src/mock.rs
+++ b/substrate/frame/staking/src/mock.rs
@@ -834,7 +834,7 @@ pub(crate) fn horrible_phragmen_with_post_processing(
 	// Ensure that this result is worse than seq-phragmen. Otherwise, it should not have been used
 	// for testing.
 	let score = {
-		let (_, _, better_score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |_| {});
+		let (_, _, better_score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 0, |_| {});
 
 		let support = build_support_map::<AccountId>(&winners, &staked_assignment).0;
 		let score = evaluate_support(&support);
@@ -875,6 +875,7 @@ pub(crate) fn horrible_phragmen_with_post_processing(
 // cannot do it since we want to have `tweak` injected into the process.
 pub(crate) fn prepare_submission_with(
 	do_reduce: bool,
+	iterations: usize,
 	tweak: impl FnOnce(&mut Vec<StakedAssignment<AccountId>>),
 ) -> (CompactAssignments, Vec<ValidatorIndex>, PhragmenScore) {
 	// run phragmen on the default stuff.
@@ -882,14 +883,25 @@ pub(crate) fn prepare_submission_with(
 		winners,
 		assignments,
 	} = Staking::do_phragmen::<OffchainAccuracy>().unwrap();
-	let winners = winners.into_iter().map(|(w, _)| w).collect::<Vec<AccountId>>();
+	let winners = sp_phragmen::to_without_backing(winners);
 
 	let stake_of = |who: &AccountId| -> VoteWeight {
 		<CurrencyToVoteHandler as Convert<Balance, VoteWeight>>::convert(
 			Staking::slashable_balance_of(&who)
 		)
 	};
+
 	let mut staked = sp_phragmen::assignment_ratio_to_staked(assignments, stake_of);
+	let (mut support_map, _) = build_support_map::<AccountId>(&winners, &staked);
+
+	if iterations > 0 {
+		sp_phragmen::equalize(
+			&mut staked,
+			&mut support_map,
+			Zero::zero(),
+			iterations,
+		);
+	}
 
 	// apply custom tweaks. awesome for testing.
 	tweak(&mut staked);
diff --git a/substrate/frame/staking/src/offchain_election.rs b/substrate/frame/staking/src/offchain_election.rs
index 572703f895ec70a3a25f8192f0e0406d58d43975..2568638319394e45f72bdc844c790bd86bf3fad8 100644
--- a/substrate/frame/staking/src/offchain_election.rs
+++ b/substrate/frame/staking/src/offchain_election.rs
@@ -168,13 +168,7 @@ pub fn prepare_submission<T: Trait>(
 		<Module<T>>::slashable_balance_of_vote_weight,
 	);
 
-	// reduce
-	if do_reduce {
-		reduce(&mut staked);
-	}
-
 	let (mut support_map, _) = build_support_map::<T::AccountId>(&winners, &staked);
-
 	// equalize a random number of times.
 	let iterations_executed = match T::MaxIterations::get() {
 		0 => {
@@ -194,6 +188,10 @@ pub fn prepare_submission<T: Trait>(
 		}
 	};
 
+	// reduce
+	if do_reduce {
+		reduce(&mut staked);
+	}
 
 	// Convert back to ratio assignment. This takes less space.
 	let low_accuracy_assignment = sp_phragmen::assignment_staked_to_ratio(staked);
diff --git a/substrate/frame/staking/src/tests.rs b/substrate/frame/staking/src/tests.rs
index f3dddc87ed776ba40925f8691663b7f5c862bc7b..73fcb6c2afeb9fe182dafebe450715938c045b24 100644
--- a/substrate/frame/staking/src/tests.rs
+++ b/substrate/frame/staking/src/tests.rs
@@ -2917,7 +2917,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 				assert_eq!(Staking::era_election_status(), ElectionStatus::Open(12));
 				assert!(Staking::snapshot_validators().is_some());
 
-				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |_| {});
+				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 2, |_| {});
 				assert_ok!(Staking::submit_election_solution(
 					Origin::signed(10),
 					winners,
@@ -2960,7 +2960,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 				run_to_block(14);
 				assert_eq!(Staking::era_election_status(), ElectionStatus::Open(12));
 
-				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |_| {});
+				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 2, |_| {});
 				assert_ok!(Staking::submit_election_solution(
 					Origin::signed(10),
 					winners,
@@ -3007,7 +3007,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 
 				// create all the indices just to build the solution.
 				Staking::create_stakers_snapshot();
-				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |_| {});
+				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 2, |_| {});
 				Staking::kill_stakers_snapshot();
 
 				assert_noop!(
@@ -3036,7 +3036,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 				run_to_block(12);
 
 				// a good solution
-				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |_| {});
+				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 2, |_| {});
 				assert_ok!(Staking::submit_election_solution(
 					Origin::signed(10),
 					winners,
@@ -3083,7 +3083,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 				));
 
 				// a better solution
-				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |_| {});
+				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 2, |_| {});
 				assert_ok!(Staking::submit_election_solution(
 					Origin::signed(10),
 					winners,
@@ -3189,7 +3189,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 		ext.execute_with(|| {
 			run_to_block(12);
 			// put a good solution on-chain
-			let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |_| {});
+			let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 2, |_| {});
 			assert_ok!(Staking::submit_election_solution(
 				Origin::signed(10),
 				winners,
@@ -3235,7 +3235,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 				run_to_block(12);
 
 				ValidatorCount::put(3);
-				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |_| {});
+				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 2, |_| {});
 				ValidatorCount::put(4);
 
 				assert_eq!(winners.len(), 3);
@@ -3266,7 +3266,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 				run_to_block(12);
 
 				ValidatorCount::put(3);
-				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |_| {});
+				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 2, |_| {});
 				ValidatorCount::put(4);
 
 				assert_eq!(winners.len(), 3);
@@ -3296,7 +3296,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 				build_offchain_phragmen_test_ext();
 				run_to_block(12);
 
-				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |_| {});
+				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 2, |_| {});
 
 				assert_eq!(winners.len(), 4);
 
@@ -3325,7 +3325,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 
 				assert_eq!(Staking::snapshot_nominators().unwrap().len(), 5 + 4);
 				assert_eq!(Staking::snapshot_validators().unwrap().len(), 4);
-				let (mut compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |_| {});
+				let (mut compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 2, |_| {});
 
 				// index 9 doesn't exist.
 				compact.votes1.push((9, 2));
@@ -3358,7 +3358,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 
 				assert_eq!(Staking::snapshot_nominators().unwrap().len(), 5 + 4);
 				assert_eq!(Staking::snapshot_validators().unwrap().len(), 4);
-				let (mut compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |_| {});
+				let (mut compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 2, |_| {});
 
 				// index 4 doesn't exist.
 				compact.votes1.push((3, 4));
@@ -3391,7 +3391,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 
 				assert_eq!(Staking::snapshot_nominators().unwrap().len(), 5 + 4);
 				assert_eq!(Staking::snapshot_validators().unwrap().len(), 4);
-				let (compact, _, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |_| {});
+				let (compact, _, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 2, |_| {});
 
 				// index 4 doesn't exist.
 				let winners = vec![0, 1, 2, 4];
@@ -3424,7 +3424,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 
 				assert_eq!(Staking::snapshot_nominators().unwrap().len(), 5 + 4);
 				assert_eq!(Staking::snapshot_validators().unwrap().len(), 4);
-				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |a| {
+				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 2, |a| {
 					a.iter_mut()
 						.find(|x| x.who == 5)
 						// all 3 cannot be among the winners. Although, all of them are validator
@@ -3457,7 +3457,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 				build_offchain_phragmen_test_ext();
 				run_to_block(12);
 
-				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |a| {
+				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 2, |a| {
 					// mutate a self vote to target someone else. That someone else is still among the
 					// winners
 					a.iter_mut().find(|x| x.who == 11).map(|x| {
@@ -3493,7 +3493,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 				build_offchain_phragmen_test_ext();
 				run_to_block(12);
 
-				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |a| {
+				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 2, |a| {
 					// Remove the self vote.
 					a.retain(|x| x.who != 11);
 					// add is as a new double vote
@@ -3531,7 +3531,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 
 				// Note: we don't reduce here to be able to tweak votes3. votes3 will vanish if you
 				// reduce.
-				let (mut compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(false, |_| {});
+				let (mut compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(false, 0, |_| {});
 
 				if let Some(c) = compact.votes3.iter_mut().find(|x| x.0 == 0) {
 					// by default it should have been (0, [(2, 33%), (1, 33%)], 0)
@@ -3573,7 +3573,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 				build_offchain_phragmen_test_ext();
 				run_to_block(12);
 
-				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(false, |a| {
+				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(false, 0, |a| {
 					// 3 only voted for 20 and 40. We add a fake vote to 30. The stake sum is still
 					// correctly 100.
 					a.iter_mut()
@@ -3635,7 +3635,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 				run_to_block(32);
 
 				// a solution that has been prepared after the slash.
-				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(false, |a| {
+				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(false, 0, |a| {
 					// no one is allowed to vote for 10, except for itself.
 					a.into_iter()
 						.filter(|s| s.who != 11)
@@ -3654,7 +3654,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 				));
 
 				// a wrong solution.
-				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(false, |a| {
+				let (compact, winners, score) = prepare_submission_with(false, 0, |a| {
 					// add back the vote that has been filtered out.
 					a.push(StakedAssignment {
 						who: 1,
@@ -3688,7 +3688,7 @@ mod offchain_phragmen {
 				build_offchain_phragmen_test_ext();
 				run_to_block(12);
 
-				let (compact, winners, mut score) = prepare_submission_with(true, |_| {});
+				let (compact, winners, mut score) = prepare_submission_with(true, 2, |_| {});
 				score[0] += 1;
 
 				assert_noop!(
diff --git a/substrate/primitives/phragmen/src/lib.rs b/substrate/primitives/phragmen/src/lib.rs
index cf972eb1ed7babd138693f6ccd42fc2c61c24ab1..9aaa96150ff7471a56cfaed0137c1ad1df2483d0 100644
--- a/substrate/primitives/phragmen/src/lib.rs
+++ b/substrate/primitives/phragmen/src/lib.rs
@@ -599,11 +599,11 @@ pub fn evaluate_support<AccountId>(
 ) -> PhragmenScore {
 	let mut min_support = ExtendedBalance::max_value();
 	let mut sum: ExtendedBalance = Zero::zero();
-	// NOTE: this will probably saturate but using big num makes it even slower. We'll have to see.
-	// This must run on chain..
+	// NOTE: The third element might saturate but fine for now since this will run on-chain and need
+	// to be fast.
 	let mut sum_squared: ExtendedBalance = Zero::zero();
 	for (_, support) in support.iter() {
-		sum += support.total;
+		sum = sum.saturating_add(support.total);
 		let squared = support.total.saturating_mul(support.total);
 		sum_squared = sum_squared.saturating_add(squared);
 		if support.total < min_support {