The rules for voting in the Swampies are a little different from most online competitions; you can cast a ballot using any of several different methods. And here’s the fun part: Votes using each method will be counted separately. Which means that if you follow the rules carefully, you can cast up to 4 votes for a single nominee! (Or split your vote, if you’re conflicted.)
Here’s how to make sure your votes count (and count, and count, and count). Simply choose any or all of the following methods:
1. Vote in the comments: The story that announces the official nominees in each category also serves as its main ballot box. You can vote for a nominee in each category simply by adding your comment to the story and indicating your preference in that particular contest. It’s a whole lot more fun, of course, if you provide an entertaining explanation along with your vote — but it isn’t necessary.
2. Vote by email: Send Swamplot an email indicating your preferences. Just make sure you specify which category you’re voting in. You can vote in each category as the official nominees for that category are announced — or you can wait until all the nominees are announced in all of the categories and send a single message containing all of your votes.
3. Vote from Facebook: First — if you haven’t already — become a fan of Swamplot on Facebook by clicking on the “Like†button at the top of our Facebook page. Then post your votes on our wall. Your vote might look like this, for example. “I’m voting for EaDo for Neighborhood of the Year in the 2016 Swampies!!1!†Or vote by commenting on the Facebook post made by Swamplot that links to the official ballot post on our site. It just needs to be clear which category your vote is intended for. Post a separate message or comment for each category you wish to vote in.
4. Vote on Twitter: You’ll first need to follow Swamplot on Twitter. All votes must be addressed to Swamplot (@swamplot) and include the #swampies hashtag, as well as the name of the category you’re voting for. Make sure you’re indicating your vote clearly. (For example, “@swamplot design cliché lick-and-stick all the way! #swampies†tells us you want to vote for Lick-and-Stick Brick in the “Favorite Houston Design Cliché†category.)
Whichever method you use, you’ll need to wait for the official nominees to be announced in a category before you can cast your votes in that category. You’ll find all the official-nominee posts that have been published so far on this page.
We encourage you to vote using each method, but if you vote more than once for a particular category using the same method (making 3 votes on Twitter for a particular candidate, for example), all of your votes will be disregarded. If you change your mind about a vote before the voting period ends, though, you can still change it: Write us a note referencing your original vote and indicating what changes you would like to make.
Have a favorite candidate you’d like to see win one of the awards? Why not start a campaign? Link to the awards on your blog or on Facebook; encourage others to retweet your Twitter votes; or post about them on any forums you frequent. Encourage your friends to visit Swamplot and vote! We also hope you’ll explain your vote as you cast it. The announcement of the award winners will include quotations from what supporters had to say when they voted.
All votes must be submitted before 5 pm CST on Tuesday, December 27. The decisions of the judges are final.
- Swamplot Awards Ballots 2016Â [Swamplot]