Have a questions about Charlotte’s A-List? We’re here to help!
When is voting?
Voting begins on April 28 and ends May 19.
How often can I vote?
You can vote once per day in each category during the voting period. You will be able to tell if you voted in a category by looking at the ballot.
How do I get nominated?
The A-List 2026 nomination round takes place March 17 – April 4 and is purely based on write-ins. We encourage you to remind your customers and clients to remember to nominate you during this period. Nominate here once a day per category.
Why wasn’t my business nominated for _______?
Nominations are determined by individuals in our community during the nomination period. They are not determined by SouthPark staff. If your business did not make it to the ballot for a certain category, then it is because it did not receive enough nominations to advance to the final voting ballot.
Why have some category names changed from the nomination ballot to the voting ballot?
We don’t anticipate this will happen often, but we reserve the right to update categories for voting based on the information collected during nominations.
How come my address on the ballot is listed as _____?
The ballot integrates with Google Business and automatically pulls the name shown on your Google Business listing. If your address is showing incorrectly or has errors, please email us at mercy@southparkmagazine.com and we’ll get it corrected as quickly as we can.
Why do some businesses have their logo and others don’t?
Businesses can choose to enhance their nomination with an Enhanced Listing. Click here for more info. If you would like to purchase an Enhanced Listing, please contact either Jane or Lynda at SouthPark Magazine.
Do I have to advertise to participate?
No way! No purchase is required to participate in the competition or to win the competition. We are not shy in telling you that advertising helps because it is the best way to remind the voters about your business and what category you’d like to be considered for, much like political candidates advertise to get their name out to the public (but we do not allow negative ads).
We would not be able to do this competition without our advertisers. It costs a lot of time and money to run a competition like this!
Any restrictions on voting?
Voters must use their own email address when registering to vote. Email addresses must be valid. A voter can only use one email to vote in the competition. The software we are using has a complex system to help eliminate potential voter fraud. Any votes that trigger the system are reviewed. Votes that cannot be verified or show signs that they may be fraudulent may be eliminated. Votes from email addresses that only vote in one category (or only vote for one nominee across multiple categories) may be flagged as fraudulent because our software thinks they look fake. To be clear, nothing is automatically disqualified; however, email addresses with just one vote may be subject to investigation.
Any restrictions on who can win?
Any business or individual who does not provide good representation of SouthPark Magazine or the A-List competition may be determined to be ineligible and eliminated from the competition at any time. Also, any business that has demonstrated an unwillingness to follow the rules of the competition may be eliminated.
Are businesses allowed to use customer emails to vote for themselves?
NO. The ballot platform we use is well-versed in identifying and eliminating many of the ways companies attempt to commit voter fraud. We are confident that this platform ensures we have the most honest and valid competition we can.
Are businesses allowed to offer incentives in exchange for votes?
NO. We do not allow this. If we become aware that a business is offering freebies or discounts in exchange for votes, this may compromise your standing on the ballot.
So, how can I promote my business to get nominations/votes?
Download these free graphics to help get the word out, and make sure to check out our marketing tips.
Why is my nomination not showing up on the ballot?
Nominations aren’t public until the voting round. The top nominees in each category will move on to the voting round.
How specific do I need to be when nominating?
The more specific the better! In some instances, we can’t approve a nomination unless it includes sufficient information. For example, if you’re nominating “John” for Best Bartender, please specify “John at The Watering Hole.” Another example: if you’re nominating “Charlotte Fitness” and the gym has locations in Plaza Midwood, NoDa and South End, please specify “Charlotte Fitness South End.” In some instances, companies with various locations may get combined if there is no clear winner between the different locations.
I’m having trouble viewing the ballot. What should I do?
Try clearing your cache and cookies, as stored data can sometimes prevent pages from displaying correctly (see instructions for Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge). If that doesn’t work, try using a different browser or device, disabling browser extensions such as ad blockers, checking your internet connection or opening the page in an incognito window.
I missed the nomination round this year. How can I be more prepared next time?
Sign up for our A-List emails. We’ll send you occasional emails with important A-List information.
How does the voting round work?
Businesses that receive the most nominations in each category advance to the voting round. Voting takes place April 28 – May 19.
Can nominees be based outside of Charlotte?
We consider nominations in the Greater Charlotte area.
Can chain stores and franchises be nominated, or is it only for locals?
We love to see locally owned small businesses shine. However, some categories just don’t have many locally owned businesses. It’s up to the voters to say what they support.
I don’t have time to fill out the whole ballot right now. Can I come back later and do more?
Yes! As long as you’ve already registered (entered your email address on the form on your first nomination or vote), you can pick up where you left off. When you return to the ballot on the same device, you should be automatically logged in and able to see your previous selections. If you aren’t logged in and you know that you’ve already registered, click the “Already entered?” link at the top of the ballot, then enter the email address you previously used.
Why do I have to make an account?
Our ballot software requires that users create an account to track your selections. This helps us guard against fraudulent voting and allows you to revisit the ballot before the deadline to make changes and additional nominations. There is no password needed!
How do I find out who the winners are?
Winners will be announced online in early July and in the July issue of SouthPark Magazine. Subscribe now to get the A-List issue delivered right to your door.
Which honorees will be featured in the A-List issue?
In addition to the Editors’ Choice winners, the Readers’ Choice winners and the runners-up will be listed in the July 2026 issue.
Why wasn’t I notified that I was a finalist or a winner?
With over 100 categories and thousands of contenders, it’s a challenge to maintain an up-to-date list of contact information. If the nomination and/or voting round has ended and we haven’t contacted you yet, please fill out our status request form and we’ll let you know your status (if you’ve been named a finalist or winner). Make sure to sign up for our A-List emails to stay up to date.
Still have questions? Contact Marketing Specialist Mercy Clark.
