Voting FAQ & Rules (Please Read!)
Don't get too excited - this isn't the list of nominations. ;P
Voting won't open for another 1.5-2hrs, but the post containing the 2008 nominations is HUGE and taking a while to type up properly (as LJ is screwing with me something awful), so I thought I'd put the Voting FAQ in a separate post. Please be sure to read through this post once voting opens!!
Voting FAQ
1. I don't see one of my nominated fics on the list! What happened?
Don't see one of your nominations on the nomination list? Well, it's probably for one of the following reasons:
1. The nominated fic did not meet the category criteria (unfortunately, quite a few rejected noms were due to this - I tried to be as lenient as possible, but the category descriptions were clearly posted).
2. The nominated fic was not published/significantly updated during 2008, or was published elsewhere online before 2008.
3. You submitted more than one nomination form/set of nominations.
4. You failed to provide specific links to the fics/authors themselves on your ballot (I'm sorry, but it's just too much work for me to have to hunt down the fics myself on top of checking if they qualify and informing the authors).
5. The author of the nominated fic failed to respond to the notification message.
6. The author of the nominated fic declined the nomination.
2. I didn't send in a nomination ballot! Can I still participate in the voting?
Absolutely! Anyone who is affiliated with a Criminal Minds site (eg., LJ, fanfiction.net, CM Wiki, The Profilers, etc) is welcome to submit a voting ballot, regardless of whether or not they previously nominated fics.
3. I was nominated for a category! Can I vote for myself on my ballot?
Sorry, but no. Originally, I was going to allow this, but I've had a change of heart - this is a peer-run contest, and as such, winners will be determined by said peers. You're still welcome to encourage others to vote for you, but you cannot vote for yourself.
4. I don't want to read that many fics! Can I still submit a ballot with some of the spaces blank, or do I hae to vote for every category?
Understandably, some voters may have difficulty reading every fic on the nomination list (either due to time constraints, or unwillingness to read certain types of fics). But rest assured, just as it was with the nomination period, you do not have to vote for every category in order to submit a voting ballot. However, please keep in mind that once your ballot has been submitted, you will not be allowed to submit another one or add additional votes, so be certain of your choices before you send it in.
5. I'm under 17, and some of the fics are rated R/M/FRAO/NC-17 and won't let me view. Is there some way to get around it?
Probably, but I don't recommend trying it. Obviously, I don't want anyone reading fics that are innappropriate/too mature for them. Ratings and minor warnings are posted beside nominations. There may also be additional warnings posted at the site of the fic. If you are younger than the posted age for a fic, please respect the ratings and warnings, and do not read those fics.
6. Some of the fics in the categories are rated R/M/FRAO/NC-17 / involve slash/femslash / and/or are PWP, and I don't want to read that! What should I do?
Don't read them. As mentioned above, you don't have to submit a vote for every category. And if there are one or more fics in a category that you're opposed to reading, simply read the ones you're okay with and vote for one of those. This is all for fun, and no one should feel forced to read fics that make them uncomfortable.
7. I forgot to fill in some of my votes / I want to change one of my votes! Can I resubmit my voting ballot?
Sorry, but no. To keep things simple (and my sanity intact), only one ballot will be accepted per person. Therefore, you should be certain of your choices before submitting. If you think there might have been a computer glitch/unforeseen circumstance when sending in your ballot, please send me an email at _____, and I'll be happy to check it over for you and send a confirmation that it's been received.
Do you have a question that isn't answered in the FAQ? Leave a comment here, or send it to _______, and I'll answer it as best I can.
Rules:
1. To vote, delete all stories from the 'ballot' but the one you want for that category.
2. Anyone is eligible to participate, provided they are affiliated with a CM site of some kind.
3. You are eligible to vote even if you didn't previously send in a nomination form.
4. You DO NOT have to vote for a fic for each category - only vote for the ones you feel like voting for.
5. Please limit yourself to ONE vote per category. Additional votes will be discarded.
6. Authors ARE NOT allowed to vote for themselves/their own fics - (ORIGINALLY, THEY WERE GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO, BUT I'VE CHANGED IT NOW - THIS IS A PEER-JUDGED CONTEST).
7. PLEASE BE AWARE of the ratings posted next to the title of each fic. Anyone under 17 is encouraged to respect the restrictions regarding these rating categories, and understand that if they choose to read mature fics, they are doing so at their own discretion,
8. Limit of ONE voting form submission per user. Additional forms will be discarded.
9. You CANNOT change your vote once submitted. Be certain of your choice.
P.S. - Even if you don't vote for a particular fic, it's nice to leave a comment/review for the authors whose work you're enjoying. These authors all worked very had on their fics, and it's nice to let them know their work is appreciated, even if they don't end up winning in their category. :)
...2 more hours, peeps!!