Best of WNC 2021

You’ve come to the right place! Each year, thousands of residents and visitors take part in evaluating what’s best and brightest about a very wonderful place — Western North Carolina. With spring in full bloom and twelve months of lockdown behind us, voting for what you love most about your community is restorative; it’s an affirmation.

This year’s ballot asks for your opinion on hundreds of topics and issues — to register your passions, your knowledge and your favorite things. It also includes a dozen new categories to get your views on the challenges of COVID-19. The ballot is long — it’s comprehensive — so please feel free to skip categories that don’t interest you or that you’re unfamiliar with.

These are the rules for the 2021 Best of WNC Readers’ Poll:

1. The official voting period is Wednesday, April 21, through 11:59 p.m. (midnight) Monday, May 31.
2. Your ballot must have at least 30 categories completed to be counted (Responses like “don’t know” and “NA” don’t count).
3. You have seven days to complete your ballot. After seven days, your ballot will be automatically closed and submitted.
4. One ballot per reader. We reserve the right to reject any ballot we deem fraudulent.
5. Read and follow section and category instructions.

Have a problem voting? Call us Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at 251-1333. Or e-mail us at bestof@mountainx.com

A few important points before you get started…

• • All categories are free-choice write-in. However, the ballot has an autocomplete drop-down menu for most categories to improve your voting experience (and our vote-tabulation process), once again. When you type 3 or more characters in an answer field (for most categories), you’ll be offered a drop-down list of answers to choose from. If you don’t see the answer you want, just ignore the list and type your own answer.
  • You can take a break from voting by clicking the “Resume Later” button, which allows you to close your ballot and return later. You have seven days to complete your ballot.
  • Save your ballot-registration email — it contains the link you’ll need to return to your ballot (until you complete your ballot by clicking “Submit”).
  • To return to your unfinished ballot, click the link in your original ballot-registration email that you received when you initially registered.
  • New this year! In order to participate you must have a Mountain Xpress website account. If you are not already logged in you will be prompted to login to an existing account or register for a new account before you get started. It only takes a minute to register! (If you do not receive your password email, please check your spam folder. Also make sure the e-mail associated with your existing account is up-to-date.)

To get started, scroll down to the bottom of this page and click on the giant “CLICK HERE, VOTE NOW” graphic.

Got a business you think should be voted Best of WNC? Want to help promote your favorite places? Here are links to download printable promotional materials PDF (poster & 2 postcards) and online “Vote Now” Web Graphics.