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People's Choice award

A fair People's Choice vote, without counting likes

Facebook likes get split across posts and shares, and they can be bought. Put the finalists side by side on one page instead, share one link or QR code, and let each person pick one favorite.

Your poll

Up to 6 finalists. One link. A clear People's Choice

40/140
Contest ideas:
Who should vote?

Anyone with the link can see these photos. Do not add private or sensitive images

Waiting for your pick

Which image draws more attention to the watch

House among trees strung with colorful lights
House among trees strung with colorful lights · Pexels
Snowy cottage covered in bright holiday lights
Snowy cottage covered in bright holiday lights · Pexels
Front door glowing with wreaths and warm lights
Front door glowing with wreaths and warm lights · Pexels

How towns run People's Choice

Real People's Choice votes, and how each one counted.

Village of Bourbonnais, Illinois

The Holly Jolly Lighting Contest put 25 homes on the Village's Facebook page for People's Choice, and they drew 3,112 votes in ten days.

Source

Visit Longview, Texas, 2026

People's Choice adds Facebook likes at 1 point each to in-person votes at 5 points each, from December 1 to 20.

Source

Town of Berthoud, Colorado, 2026

Entries go on a map on December 10, residents vote for People's Choice through December 20, and voters are entered in a gift card drawing.

Source

Sheridan County Chamber, Wyoming, 2025

The Christmas Stroll People's Choice Lighting and Decorating Contest took votes on the Chamber's website through December 7.

Source

People's Choice rules you can copy

A rules template for a People's Choice award. Replace the parts in brackets.

[Organization] People's Choice Award

Who can vote: anyone, online at [link] or by scanning the QR code at [places].
What you vote on: the [6] finalists chosen by the judges on [date].
Voting: from [date] to [date]. One vote per person. Repeat votes from the same device are refused, and suspicious votes are reviewed by the organizers.
Winner: the finalist with the most votes. In a tie, [the judges decide / both win].
Announcement: [date] on [website, social media, newsletter].
Prize: [prize].
The organizers may remove votes that break these rules.

People's Choice next to judges' awards

People's Choice is one vote per person, with no scoring. If you also have judges, keep their scores separate and announce both. Judges usually score these:

Overall impression

How it looks at first sight.

Creativity

An idea nobody else had.

Craft

Neat work that still holds up close.

Theme

How well the entry fits the theme you announced.

Seen from the street

For homes and windows, what people notice from the sidewalk or a car.

A People's Choice timeline that works

  1. Entry deadline

    Collect photos with the entry form you already use.

  2. Judging day

    Judges pick the finalists and their own awards.

  3. Public vote, 7 days

    A week-long vote reaches people who only read the weekend newsletter.

  4. Announcement

    Close the vote and announce People's Choice together with the judges' awards.

Good for

Where People's Choice is used

  • Holiday lights and home decorating contests
  • Art shows, quilt shows and craft fairs
  • Gingerbread and cookie contests
  • Photo contests run by towns, libraries and clubs

How it works

How to run the vote

  1. 1

    Pick the finalists

    Judges choose up to 6 finalists and the public picks one. With more entries, run one vote per category.

  2. 2

    Name each entry the way people know it

    Give every photo a short title or number, the same as on the yard sign, the map or the table card.

  3. 3

    Share one link and one QR code

    In the newsletter, on social media, on the map and at the event itself.

  4. 4

    Announce People's Choice

    Your author page shows the count live. Close the vote and share the winner image next to the judges' awards.

More than 6 finalists, totals hidden until the announcement, a judges' pick next to People's Choice, or a vote integrity report? See the contest pack

Want us to set up the page and the QR poster for you? Write to us

Photos that keep the vote fair

  • Photograph every finalist the same way: same time of day, same distance.
  • Holiday lights at dusk, not full dark, so both the house and the lights show.
  • Landscape for houses and displays, portrait for single pieces.
  • Use the entry's name or number as the photo title instead of text on the photo.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is a People's Choice award?

The prize the public picks by vote, usually next to awards chosen by judges. One vote per person, and the most votes wins.

Why not count Facebook likes?

Likes are split across posts and shares, they can be bought, and a like does not mean someone compared every entry. One page with all the finalists and one vote each is easier to count and to defend.

What stops someone from voting many times?

One vote per browser and network, and votes that arrive seconds apart from one link are flagged for you to review. You decide which to remove. It does not check identity, so for a big prize add judges too.

Can people vote once a day?

In the contest pack, yes: one vote per person per day. The free vote allows one vote per person for the whole contest.

Should voters see the standings?

By default they see the standings only after voting, so an early leader does not pull votes. In the contest pack, totals stay hidden until you announce the winner.

Where do I get the QR code?

On your author page open “More options”, then “QR code”: “Print a notice” gives a page with the photos and a code to scan, “Show on a screen” puts the code on a TV or projector.