Though Best of C-VILLE is in its 20th year, it feels as if every time is the first time. At least for some of you. Here are a few Best of C-VILLE Frequently Asked Questions, to help clear up any confusion.
How does this work?
Best of C-VILLE happens in two phases: The nomination season (May 4-27) and the voting season (June 8-July 1). During the nomination phase, readers select their favorite people, places and things in Charlottesville in more than 100 sub-categories. The top five from those lists end up on the final ballot for the voting phase, in which readers name the best of the best. From there, the top three (winner, runner-up, honorable mention) are recognized in Best of C-VILLE, on stands August 24.
I don’t see the sub-category I want. Can I add it?
No, you may not. The C-VILLE editorial staff begins discussing categories in March, and what follows is a rigorous process of addition and elimination.
Can I request a sub-category for next year?
Sure. This year, for the first time ever, we opened the process up to the community and hosted a C-VILLE Live event at the end of March. Readers could tweet us (@cvillenews_desk) with their suggestions and we’d discuss them in real time. We’re likely to do that again in 2017, so keep your eyes on C-VILLE Weekly throughout the month of March, as we’ll start advertising for the event about a month prior. Unfortunately, we can’t include every suggestion or the list would be 200-long. The final selections are at the discretion of the C-VILLE editorial staff.
Why have you included this sub-category and not another one?
Longtime Best of C-VILLE readers know: There are some categories we just can’t quit (lookin’ at you, Best Restaurant!). But, to keep things interesting, the editorial staff also likes to include a few of-the-moment categories, so we throw in some wildcards. Depending on their relevance, they may or may not show up on next year’s ballot.
Why isn’t my sub-category included this year?
Like we said, we like to mix it up.
Why don’t I see my favorite [person, place, thing]?
We’ve put a few perennial winners into our 20th Anniversary Best of C-VILLE Hall of Fame this year. Check Best of C-VILLE (on stands August 24) to find out who!
Can I just e-mail you my votes?
No. The only way to vote is to log in and select your choice.
Why can I see the results? Is this a mistake?
For the sake of transparency, we give voters a sneak peek at who’s in the lead. We’ll turn off this feature a week before voting closes, though, so we don’t ruin the surprise.
How much longer do I have to vote?
Voting closes at midnight on Saturday, July 2.
I’ve registered with my e-mail address but I can’t log in. What do I do?
Check your spam folder for a confirmation e-mail. Until you’ve confirmed, you can’t log in to nominate.
I still can’t log in. What do I do?
Did you try restarting your computer? …Just joshin’. E-mail bestof@c-ville.com and someone at Best of C-VILLE Headquarters will be happy to help you solve the problem.