The May-June issue of Tallahassee Magazine will hit mailboxes and selected retail outlets in early May, when you’ll again get a chance to vote for your favorite Tallahassee businesses.

Yes, it’s Best of Tallahassee time.

You’ll find details on how to vote in the latest edition of Tallahassee Magazine, available at Barnes and Noble, Books A Million, Costco, Walgreens or at the Rowland Publishing office at 1932 Miccosukee Road.

When you think of “best,” you might recall the meal you bragged about to out-of-towners, the spot you look forward to all week for Friday night drinks, the suit that was tailored to perfection or the comfort you received from a caring physician.

They’ve made a difference for you. Now you can make a difference for them. Cast your vote in your effort to help them trumpet themselves as coveted “Best of Tallahassee” businesses.

2019 Best of Tallahassee Rules

To preserve the integrity of the voting process, the following contest rules must be observed in order to cast a ballot and ensure it is included in the voting tabulation process:

• All voting will take place online and can only be accessed with the unique code found in the May/June 2019 issue of Tallahassee Magazine.
• You will find your code on a tear-off card within the Best of Tallahassee advertisement on pages 162-163.
• Any counterfeit or misentered codes will result in a disqualified ballot.
• Ballots must have votes marked in at least 10 different categories in order to be counted.
• Each vote must list the name of a business/company. Names of only people connected to a business will not be counted.
• All votes must be cast for locally owned businesses in and around Tallahassee. Votes for any business located outside of a 30-mile radius of the city limits will not be counted.
• Locally owned and operated companies are defined as the owner or a managing partner living in Tallahassee or within a 30-mile radius of the Tallahassee city limits.
• Only ballots cast for locally owned and operated companies will be counted.
• A business can win the “Best of” award in no more than two categories. If a business is the leading vote-getter in more than two categories, that business will win only the “Best of” award for the two categories in which it received the most votes.
• Ballots must be submitted online by June 15, 2019.
• Each vote must be submitted by one verified email address.
• Obvious attempts at ballot stuffing or cheating will be disqualified.
• Any winning business must be in good standing with Rowland Publishing, Inc. in order to be promoted as a “Best of” winner.
• Once ballots are counted, all tabulations are final.

2019 Best of Tallahassee FAQs

How are Tallahassee Magazine’s “Best Of” winners selected?

The readers of Tallahassee Magazine choose the winners.

A unique code card will be inserted in the magazine (May/June) with the Best of Tallahassee ad, and readers will be asked to visit TallahasseeMagazine.com/best-of-tallahassee to unlock and complete the ballot by June 15, 2019.

Each ballot must have votes marked in at least 10 categories to be counted. Votes arriving after the deadline are not counted. Refer to rules listed above.

Who counts the votes and decides the winner?

Tallahassee Magazine contracts with a third party to count the votes and determine the winner and runner-up. For six straight years, the counting will be done by Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs.

To win, must businesses buy an ad in the magazine?

Absolutely not. Our winners include advertisers as well as non-advertisers.

Can someone “stuff” the ballot box?

No. Only ballots submitted via one verified email address are accepted. The software rejects faux email addresses.

Who is eligible?

The readers decide whom they want to honor. Locally owned and operated companies are defined by the owner or managing partner​ living in Tallahassee or within a 30-mile radius of Tallahassee city limits.

How are the categories decided?

The categories are revisited each year. We welcome reader suggestions.

What do Best Of winners get?

Winners earn the prestige of being selected by a majority of our readers. They also get recognized in the magazine, use of the “Best Of” logo for a year, discounted advertising rates, an award to showcase in their establishment and two complimentary tickets to the Best of Celebration.

Results will be published in the November/December issue of Tallahassee Magazine.

The top two finalists per category are notified and receive complimentary tickets to the celebration and awards ceremony.

Have questions about Best of Tallahassee or interested in sponsorship opportunities? Contact Mackenzie Little for more information.