Yes, it’s Best of Tallahassee time.

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

You’ll find details on how to vote in the latest edition of Tallahassee Magazine or by viewing the below rules and regulations!

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.

2021 Best of Tallahassee Official 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:

• Voting for the 2021 Best of Tallahassee honors will take place online OR via print ballot found in the May/June 2021 issue of Tallahassee Magazine.
• All online and printed ballot votes will be combined for final tabulations.
• 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.
• 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 submitted via mail must be postmarked by May 20, 2021.
• Ballots submitted via online must be submitted by May 30, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
• Each vote must be submitted by one verified email address.
• Obvious attempts at ballot stuffing or cheating will be disqualified.
• No incentives, prizes, goods or services may be offered in exchange for votes.
• Any winning business must be in good standing with Rowland Publishing, Inc. and still in operation by the date of the results printed in the magazine in order to be promoted as a “Best of” winner.
• Once ballots are counted, all tabulations are final.

2021 Best of Tallahassee FAQs

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

The readers of Tallahassee Magazine choose the winners.

Readers will be asked to visit TallahasseeMagazine.com/best-of-tallahassee to complete the ballot by May 30, 2021 or fill out one print ballot on original Tallahassee Magazine paper and postmark by May 20, 2021.

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

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 and has a multi-layered authentication security approach to ensure legitimacy.

Who is eligible?

The readers decide whom they want to honor. Locally owned and operated companies are defined as the owner or managing partner living in Tallahassee or within a 30-mile radius of the 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. Involvement in that year’s event if there is one or the celebration campaign to unveil the results.

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

The top two finalists per category are notified.

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