I don't have the authoritative answer or anything but just based on observation, I've noticed that there are (almost?) always one or two new articles with low v

I don't have the authoritative answer or anything but just based on observation, I've noticed that there are (almost?) always one or two new articles with low vote counts on the front page. I assume it's so we don't need so many "knights of new" to make ensure that the content on the front page matches what the masses want to see.