I think the simplest and most obvious answer is that he hadn't heard/forgot who the other three judges voted to eliminate, and Nicole was simply trying to tell him that if he voted to eliminate Saara, they would go to deadlock (repeating what I think Dermot already said).

I'm assuming it was just so he could say their name right. Why would Nicole know who had the most votes and Simon not? He has a much bigger role in the show.

agree