How do I organize a local tournament in my community?

Start by choosing tournament management software like Brakto, which offers free community features. Set up your tournament format, create registration, and share with your local community through social media and community boards.

What is the best free tournament software for small communities?

Brakto offers the most comprehensive free tier for community tournaments: up to 16 players for the entire event, with bracket management, email notifications, and scheduling at no cost.

Can I use tournament software for school sports?

Yes, Brakto offers specialized features for schools including student-safe registration, parent communication tools, academic calendar integration, and educational pricing discounts for schools and non-profits.

How much does local tournament management software cost?

Brakto Free covers small offline tournaments: up to 16 players tournament-wide with CSV/manual import (no online registration). Online registration uses Event plans by number of players: $79 (≤64), $149 (65–128), $249 (129–256), $549 (257–600); Club is $790/year billed annually. Standard payment processing fees apply on online payments — no Brakto per-player platform fee. Voting contests are free up to 16 entries. Legacy grandfathered events may use older pricing.

What sports can I manage with tournament software?

Brakto supports all major sports including tennis, pickleball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and more. The platform includes sport-specific rules, scoring systems, and tournament formats.

Do voting contests use tournament registration?

No. Voting contests do not use the tournament registration page or player roster signup. The /register URL shows a redirect to contest categories instead of a signup form. Participants sign in to Brakto and submit or vote directly on category poll pages. Organizers can restrict access with Invite Only status and company email domains.

How do participants switch between contest categories?

On the event home, open the Categories tab and pick a category, or use the Competitors tab to browse approved entries. On any category poll page, use the category pill switcher to jump to another poll without returning home. Organizers use Entries (primary) and Directory (links & email draft) from the admin bar.

Do voting contests use tournament registration?

No. Voting contests do not use the tournament registration page or player roster signup. The /register URL shows a redirect to contest categories instead of a signup form. Participants sign in to Brakto and submit or vote directly on category poll pages. Organizers can restrict access with Invite Only status and company email domains.

How do participants switch between contest categories?

On the event home, open the Categories tab and pick a category, or use the Competitors tab to browse approved entries. On any category poll page, use the category pill switcher to jump to another poll without returning home. Organizers use Entries (primary) and Directory (links & email draft) from the admin bar.

Event Format Guide

Explore all 8 available event formats (7 tournament/league formats + 1 voting contest). Select a format below to see the complete lifecycle.

Voting Contest

Let the crowd decide

What is Voting Contest?

Photo contests, polls, and audience choice awards. Contestants submit entries, voters pick their favorites, and live results update in real-time. Run one category or many — each category can use Leaderboard (ranked poll), Bracket (head-to-head), or Hybrid (poll → bracket). Multi-category contests can feed a grand finale (e.g., top 4 from each category advance to Best in Show).

Complete Lifecycle

Create contest and configure entry collection

SetupStep 1 of 6

Organizer

1Go to Create → Voting Contest (new contests start as Draft until you publish)
2After creation, use Admin → Directory for shareable poll links and a copy-ready employee announcement
3Choose format: Leaderboard (ranked poll), Bracket (head-to-head), or Hybrid (poll → bracket)
4Select entry mode: Organizer adds all (private), public submissions (open), or both
5Optional: pick a template (coffee cupping, photo contest, best pizza, etc.)
6Set contest name, description, and brand color
7After creation: Admin → Settings → Voting Defaults (who can vote, email domain, submissions, photos)

Player

1If public submissions enabled: organizer shares the contest or category poll link
2If organizer-managed: wait for contest to open for voting
3No tournament registration page — sign in on category poll pages to submit or vote
4Event home Overview tab: Contest Categories section shows each category and how top finishers advance to the finale
5Categories tab lists all polls; Competitors tab lists approved entries

Key Characteristics

No tournament registration — voters sign in to Brakto and submit or vote on category poll pages
Invite-only or public visibility with optional @company.com email restriction
Event home shows category-to-finale flow when a championship division is configured (category grid → finale card)
Public event logo and header banner load for all visitors — no sign-in required to view the contest page
Real-time vote tallies and live leaderboards
Three formats: Leaderboard (up to 200), Bracket (4-64), Hybrid (poll → bracket)
Up to 5 photos per public entry; bulk upload for organizers (5MB each, 2048×2048 max)
Multiple entries per person allowed (e.g., one submission per pet); voting stays one vote per person per category
Mobile-optimized voting interface (works on all screen sizes)
Beautiful winners display with medals and trophies on completed contests
Cross-division championships: multiple category polls → configurable grand finale (Leaderboard or Bracket)
Optional contestant self-submission with organizer approval workflow
Copy-ready employee announcement email generated from your contest settings

Perfect For

Company pet photo contests (Cutest, Silliest, Most Photogenic, Most Unique → Best in Show)
Taste tests and product votes (coffee, pizza, cocktails)
Employee/community awards with departmental voting → company-wide winner
Audience choice brackets (movies, songs, sports debates)
Multi-category competitions with a single grand championship finale

Technical Details

Three format modes

·Leaderboard: Single-choice poll, ranked by vote count (up to 200 entries)
·Bracket: Head-to-head matchups, single elimination (4/8/16/32/64 entries)
·Hybrid: Open poll (up to 200) → organizer promotes top 4-64 into that division's bracket

Entry collection options

·Organizer adds all: You upload all photos and manage entries
·Public submissions: Contestants self-submit with optional approval workflow
·Both: Pre-seed some entries + allow public submissions

Voting settings

·Contest-wide defaults: Admin → Settings → Voting Defaults (visibility, login, email domain, submissions)
·Per-category overrides: Category settings on each division (shortcut on poll pages or Settings → Categories)
·Who can vote: Public (no login) or Registered users only
·Max votes per user: Limit how many bracket matchups one person can vote on (optional)
·Voting windows: Set open/close date and time per category division

Private employee contests (no registration)

·Voting contests do not use the tournament registration page — no entry fees or player roster signup
·Set status to Invite Only: hidden from public browse, works for anyone with the direct link
·Employees create a free Brakto account (or sign in), then submit and vote on category poll pages
·Restrict to your company with Registered users only + allowed email domain (e.g., @company.com)
·Admin → Directory generates a copy-ready announcement with poll links and schedule

Photo requirements

·Public submissions: up to 5 photos per entry (first photo is the poll thumbnail)
·Max file size: 5MB per photo (automatically validated)
·Max dimensions: 2048×2048 pixels (oversized images rejected)
·Supported formats: JPEG, PNG, WEBP (system validates on upload)
·Bulk upload (Admin → Entries → Bulk upload): select many files, assign each to a category; dropdown shows live entry counts
·Invalid files show user-friendly error messages with retry option

Organizer admin tools

·Admin bar: Dashboard | Entries | Settings | Categories | Report | Directory
·Entries hub: Inbox (pending approvals), All entries, Bulk upload, Tools (reset contest data after testing)
·Contest Settings tabs: Categories (links + poll closer), Voting Defaults, Finale (sources, advancement, seed bracket)
·Category settings: per-category voting windows and overrides — shortcut on poll pages or Settings → Categories
·Directory: all shareable poll links, workflow steps, and employee email draft
·Poll page (organizers): Manage entries, Category settings, Contest settings, Directory, Close for championship, Change mode
·Legacy /admin/submissions URLs redirect to Entries

Mobile & accessibility

·Fully responsive design works on screens as small as 320px (iPhone SE)
·Photo grid adapts: 1 column on phones, up to 5 columns on large screens
·Touch-optimized voting buttons for easy tapping
·Fast loading with optimized images and real-time updates

Security & fraud prevention

·Email domain restriction: Limit voting and submissions to specific domains (e.g., @company.com)
·Rate limiting: 30 votes per minute per IP to prevent spam
·Duplicate vote prevention: One vote per person per category (by login or IP for public polls)
·Multiple submissions per person are allowed; each approved entry is a separate competitor on the ballot
·Server-side validation ensures all voting rules are enforced securely

Category-to-finale flow (multi-category contests)

·Typical setup: 4 category polls (Leaderboard) + 1 championship division (Best in Show)
·Event home Overview: category cards in a grid with an arrow into the finale card — shows "Top N per category"
·Each category card badge: "Top N → finale" so voters know how advancement works
·Example: top 4 from each of 4 categories → 16 finalists in a single-elimination finale bracket
·Category phase and finale phase use separate voting open/close windows
·Public branding (logo, header banner) loads for logged-out visitors on the event page

Cross-Division Championships (Advanced)

·Create one division per category (e.g., Cutest, Silliest, Most Photogenic, Most Unique)
·Add a championship division in Admin → Settings → Finale
·Per source division: set how many advance (e.g., top 4 per category → 16-entry finale)
·Seeding — Placement: top finishers by poll votes or bracket results; Seed: by original seed; Random
·Poll-only path: Leaderboard in each category → close polls → seed finale from top poll finishers
·Finale division can be Leaderboard (pick one winner) or Single-Elimination Bracket (head-to-head)
·Hybrid path: poll → category bracket in each division, then advance winner(s) to championship
·Auto-seed (default): when every category poll closes, finalists populate the championship automatically
·Championship supports up to 64 entries (auto byes if bracket mode)

FAQs

We have ~100 employees and want a company pet photo contest with no entry fees. What setup do you recommend?

·Create a Voting Contest with one Leaderboard (poll) division per category — Cutest, Silliest, Most Photogenic, Most Unique (each supports up to 200 entries)
·Add a Best in Show championship division under Admin → Settings → Finale — advance top 4 from each category (16 finalists)
·Turn on public submissions with organizer approval so employees upload their own pet photos
·Admin → Settings → Voting Defaults: registered users only + allowed email domain (e.g., @company.com)
·Set contest status to Invite Only — private link for employees, no tournament registration or fees
·Set category voting window first, then a separate finale window after categories close
·Admin → Directory: copy the auto-generated announcement with poll links and voting schedule
·Employees can submit multiple pets — each submission is a separate entry on the ballot
·Voting stays one favorite per person per category; submissions are unlimited while the window is open

How do I prevent duplicate voting?

·Set voting restriction to Registered users only (recommended for employee contests)
·Public voting allows one vote per IP address — easier for voters but easier to abuse
·Optional email domain restriction limits who can vote and submit
·Bracket mode: optional max votes per user caps how many matchups one person can vote on

Can I add more entries after voting starts?

·Yes for Leaderboard and Hybrid poll phases (up to 200 entries per division)
·Bracket mode: you can add entries but must regenerate the bracket, which resets all matches
·Best practice: finish submissions and approvals before you promote the contest widely

How do I approve or reject public submissions?

·Admin → Entries → Inbox: see all pending, approved, and rejected counts
·All entries tab shows every submission; Bulk upload adds organizer photos with live category counts
·Filter by submitter email to find a specific person's photos quickly
·Click an entry to preview full-size photos (including all images in a multi-photo submission)
·Approve or reject from the grid or the preview — approved entries go live on the poll immediately
·Category poll pages show Manage entries with a pending badge when review is needed
·Organizers receive email when new submissions arrive (if notifications are enabled)

Can one employee submit more than one pet or photo?

·Yes — each submit is a new entry (multiple pets, multiple submissions over time)
·Up to 5 photos per submission; the first photo is the thumbnail on the poll
·Employees can target one category or several at once when they submit
·Voting is still one vote per person per category — separate from how many entries they uploaded

Hybrid mode: when does the bracket start?

·The poll (Leaderboard) phase runs first — you choose how many advance (4, 8, 16, 32, or 64)
·When ready, open Change mode on the category poll page and click Promote to bracket
·That builds a single-elimination bracket in the same category division
·Voters then choose winners in head-to-head matchups until that category has a champion
·Closing the poll alone does not auto-create the bracket — promotion is a deliberate admin step

Can category polls feed a grand championship without a category bracket?

·Yes — use Leaderboard mode for each category (poll only, no head-to-head in that division)
·Voters pick one favorite per category; ranking is by total poll votes
·When category voting ends, close each poll and seed the championship from Settings → Finale
·In Settings → Finale, set how many advance per source division (e.g., top 4 each)
·Run the finale as a Leaderboard poll or a Single-Elimination Bracket — your choice per division

How do I run a multi-category contest with a grand champion?

·Create one voting contest event, then one Leaderboard division per category
·Add a championship division under Admin → Settings → Finale (e.g., Best in Show)
·Link each category as a source and set how many advance (e.g., top 4 each → 16-entry finale)
·The event home shows category cards flowing into the finale with advancement badges
·Close all category polls, then seed the championship from Settings → Finale (or use auto-seed)
·Open finale voting — Leaderboard poll or Single-Elimination Bracket depending on division setup
·Winners do not auto-populate until categories are closed — seeding runs when sources are complete

Can voters use their phones?

·Yes — contest and poll pages are mobile-optimized
·Works on phones, tablets, and desktops
·Photo grids adapt from one column on small screens to several columns on large screens

What happens after someone votes in a poll?

·They see a voted confirmation on their choice
·They can change their vote anytime while the poll is open (one active vote per user or IP)
·Live contests update vote counts on the page as others vote
·Share buttons let them spread the contest link

Photo upload failed — what went wrong?

·File too large: must be under 5MB
·Wrong format: use JPEG, PNG, or WEBP
·Image too large: max 2048×2048 pixels
·The uploader shows a specific error for each case

Why can't employees see or vote on my contest?

·Draft status blocks all public access — change to Invite Only (private link) or Public before sharing
·Invite Only hides the event from browse/search but works for anyone with the direct URL
·Voting windows must be open — check Category settings for each category's start and end time
·If email domain is restricted, voters must sign in with an allowed address (e.g., @company.com)

How do I share the voting contest?

·Admin → Directory: copy poll links and a ready-to-send employee announcement
·Share the event page or individual category poll URLs by email, chat, or QR code
·For employee-only contests: set Invite Only status and remind people to sign in with an allowed company email
·Use Share Results on completed contests for social posts

Where are voting contest admin tools?

·Admin bar: Dashboard | Entries | Settings | Categories | Report | Directory
·Entries: Inbox (pending), All entries, Bulk upload (live category counts), Tools (reset after testing)
·Contest Settings: Categories, Voting Defaults, Finale (sources, advancement, seed/build bracket)
·Poll pages (organizers): shortcuts to Entries, Category settings, Contest settings, and Directory

How do I reset the contest after testing?

·Admin → Entries → Tools tab
·Type the exact contest name to confirm, then click Reset contest data
·Clears entries, photos, votes, and brackets across all categories — reopens closed polls
·Does not delete the event, categories, or contest settings

Ready to run your Voting Contest event?

Create your tournament on Brakto, or see the full dedicated guide for this format.

Related guides

More from the Help Center — setup, formats, clubs, and tournament day

Event Format GuideAll 8 formats — lifecycle steps, technical details, and FAQs Single EliminationKnockout brackets Clubs: create, privacy, members-onlyPublic vs private clubs, invites, branding, and members-only events Organizer GuidePayments, divisions, and day-to-day admin Player GuideRegistration, matches, and standings Getting StartedCore concepts for new organizers Quick Start — OrganizerSet up a tournament in about 5 minutes Registration & Check-InOnline signup and QR check-in Score Entry & PIN ScoringPlayer self-scoring on tournament day Help FAQAccount, payments, and platform questions

All help articles

Event Format Guide

Explore all 8 available event formats (7 tournament/league formats + 1 voting contest). Select a format below to see the complete lifecycle.

Voting Contest

Let the crowd decide

What is Voting Contest?

Complete Lifecycle

Create contest and configure entry collection

SetupStep 1 of 6

Organizer

1Go to Create → Voting Contest (new contests start as Draft until you publish)
2After creation, use Admin → Directory for shareable poll links and a copy-ready employee announcement
3Choose format: Leaderboard (ranked poll), Bracket (head-to-head), or Hybrid (poll → bracket)
4Select entry mode: Organizer adds all (private), public submissions (open), or both
5Optional: pick a template (coffee cupping, photo contest, best pizza, etc.)
6Set contest name, description, and brand color
7After creation: Admin → Settings → Voting Defaults (who can vote, email domain, submissions, photos)

Player

1If public submissions enabled: organizer shares the contest or category poll link
2If organizer-managed: wait for contest to open for voting
3No tournament registration page — sign in on category poll pages to submit or vote
4Event home Overview tab: Contest Categories section shows each category and how top finishers advance to the finale
5Categories tab lists all polls; Competitors tab lists approved entries

Key Characteristics

No tournament registration — voters sign in to Brakto and submit or vote on category poll pages
Invite-only or public visibility with optional @company.com email restriction
Event home shows category-to-finale flow when a championship division is configured (category grid → finale card)
Public event logo and header banner load for all visitors — no sign-in required to view the contest page
Real-time vote tallies and live leaderboards
Three formats: Leaderboard (up to 200), Bracket (4-64), Hybrid (poll → bracket)
Up to 5 photos per public entry; bulk upload for organizers (5MB each, 2048×2048 max)
Multiple entries per person allowed (e.g., one submission per pet); voting stays one vote per person per category
Mobile-optimized voting interface (works on all screen sizes)
Beautiful winners display with medals and trophies on completed contests
Cross-division championships: multiple category polls → configurable grand finale (Leaderboard or Bracket)
Optional contestant self-submission with organizer approval workflow
Copy-ready employee announcement email generated from your contest settings

Perfect For

Company pet photo contests (Cutest, Silliest, Most Photogenic, Most Unique → Best in Show)
Taste tests and product votes (coffee, pizza, cocktails)
Employee/community awards with departmental voting → company-wide winner
Audience choice brackets (movies, songs, sports debates)
Multi-category competitions with a single grand championship finale

Technical Details

Three format modes

·Leaderboard: Single-choice poll, ranked by vote count (up to 200 entries)
·Bracket: Head-to-head matchups, single elimination (4/8/16/32/64 entries)
·Hybrid: Open poll (up to 200) → organizer promotes top 4-64 into that division's bracket

Entry collection options

·Organizer adds all: You upload all photos and manage entries
·Public submissions: Contestants self-submit with optional approval workflow
·Both: Pre-seed some entries + allow public submissions

Voting settings

·Contest-wide defaults: Admin → Settings → Voting Defaults (visibility, login, email domain, submissions)
·Per-category overrides: Category settings on each division (shortcut on poll pages or Settings → Categories)
·Who can vote: Public (no login) or Registered users only
·Max votes per user: Limit how many bracket matchups one person can vote on (optional)
·Voting windows: Set open/close date and time per category division

Private employee contests (no registration)

·Voting contests do not use the tournament registration page — no entry fees or player roster signup
·Set status to Invite Only: hidden from public browse, works for anyone with the direct link
·Employees create a free Brakto account (or sign in), then submit and vote on category poll pages
·Restrict to your company with Registered users only + allowed email domain (e.g., @company.com)
·Admin → Directory generates a copy-ready announcement with poll links and schedule

Photo requirements

·Public submissions: up to 5 photos per entry (first photo is the poll thumbnail)
·Max file size: 5MB per photo (automatically validated)
·Max dimensions: 2048×2048 pixels (oversized images rejected)
·Supported formats: JPEG, PNG, WEBP (system validates on upload)
·Bulk upload (Admin → Entries → Bulk upload): select many files, assign each to a category; dropdown shows live entry counts
·Invalid files show user-friendly error messages with retry option

Organizer admin tools

·Admin bar: Dashboard | Entries | Settings | Categories | Report | Directory
·Entries hub: Inbox (pending approvals), All entries, Bulk upload, Tools (reset contest data after testing)
·Contest Settings tabs: Categories (links + poll closer), Voting Defaults, Finale (sources, advancement, seed bracket)
·Category settings: per-category voting windows and overrides — shortcut on poll pages or Settings → Categories
·Directory: all shareable poll links, workflow steps, and employee email draft
·Poll page (organizers): Manage entries, Category settings, Contest settings, Directory, Close for championship, Change mode
·Legacy /admin/submissions URLs redirect to Entries

Mobile & accessibility

·Fully responsive design works on screens as small as 320px (iPhone SE)
·Photo grid adapts: 1 column on phones, up to 5 columns on large screens
·Touch-optimized voting buttons for easy tapping
·Fast loading with optimized images and real-time updates

Security & fraud prevention

·Email domain restriction: Limit voting and submissions to specific domains (e.g., @company.com)
·Rate limiting: 30 votes per minute per IP to prevent spam
·Duplicate vote prevention: One vote per person per category (by login or IP for public polls)
·Multiple submissions per person are allowed; each approved entry is a separate competitor on the ballot
·Server-side validation ensures all voting rules are enforced securely

Category-to-finale flow (multi-category contests)

·Typical setup: 4 category polls (Leaderboard) + 1 championship division (Best in Show)
·Event home Overview: category cards in a grid with an arrow into the finale card — shows "Top N per category"
·Each category card badge: "Top N → finale" so voters know how advancement works
·Example: top 4 from each of 4 categories → 16 finalists in a single-elimination finale bracket
·Category phase and finale phase use separate voting open/close windows
·Public branding (logo, header banner) loads for logged-out visitors on the event page

Cross-Division Championships (Advanced)

·Create one division per category (e.g., Cutest, Silliest, Most Photogenic, Most Unique)
·Add a championship division in Admin → Settings → Finale
·Per source division: set how many advance (e.g., top 4 per category → 16-entry finale)
·Seeding — Placement: top finishers by poll votes or bracket results; Seed: by original seed; Random
·Poll-only path: Leaderboard in each category → close polls → seed finale from top poll finishers
·Finale division can be Leaderboard (pick one winner) or Single-Elimination Bracket (head-to-head)
·Hybrid path: poll → category bracket in each division, then advance winner(s) to championship
·Auto-seed (default): when every category poll closes, finalists populate the championship automatically
·Championship supports up to 64 entries (auto byes if bracket mode)

FAQs

We have ~100 employees and want a company pet photo contest with no entry fees. What setup do you recommend?

·Create a Voting Contest with one Leaderboard (poll) division per category — Cutest, Silliest, Most Photogenic, Most Unique (each supports up to 200 entries)
·Add a Best in Show championship division under Admin → Settings → Finale — advance top 4 from each category (16 finalists)
·Turn on public submissions with organizer approval so employees upload their own pet photos
·Admin → Settings → Voting Defaults: registered users only + allowed email domain (e.g., @company.com)
·Set contest status to Invite Only — private link for employees, no tournament registration or fees
·Set category voting window first, then a separate finale window after categories close
·Admin → Directory: copy the auto-generated announcement with poll links and voting schedule
·Employees can submit multiple pets — each submission is a separate entry on the ballot
·Voting stays one favorite per person per category; submissions are unlimited while the window is open

How do I prevent duplicate voting?

·Set voting restriction to Registered users only (recommended for employee contests)
·Public voting allows one vote per IP address — easier for voters but easier to abuse
·Optional email domain restriction limits who can vote and submit
·Bracket mode: optional max votes per user caps how many matchups one person can vote on

Can I add more entries after voting starts?

·Yes for Leaderboard and Hybrid poll phases (up to 200 entries per division)
·Bracket mode: you can add entries but must regenerate the bracket, which resets all matches
·Best practice: finish submissions and approvals before you promote the contest widely

How do I approve or reject public submissions?

·Admin → Entries → Inbox: see all pending, approved, and rejected counts
·All entries tab shows every submission; Bulk upload adds organizer photos with live category counts
·Filter by submitter email to find a specific person's photos quickly
·Click an entry to preview full-size photos (including all images in a multi-photo submission)
·Approve or reject from the grid or the preview — approved entries go live on the poll immediately
·Category poll pages show Manage entries with a pending badge when review is needed
·Organizers receive email when new submissions arrive (if notifications are enabled)

Can one employee submit more than one pet or photo?

·Yes — each submit is a new entry (multiple pets, multiple submissions over time)
·Up to 5 photos per submission; the first photo is the thumbnail on the poll
·Employees can target one category or several at once when they submit
·Voting is still one vote per person per category — separate from how many entries they uploaded

Hybrid mode: when does the bracket start?

·The poll (Leaderboard) phase runs first — you choose how many advance (4, 8, 16, 32, or 64)
·When ready, open Change mode on the category poll page and click Promote to bracket
·That builds a single-elimination bracket in the same category division
·Voters then choose winners in head-to-head matchups until that category has a champion
·Closing the poll alone does not auto-create the bracket — promotion is a deliberate admin step

Can category polls feed a grand championship without a category bracket?

·Yes — use Leaderboard mode for each category (poll only, no head-to-head in that division)
·Voters pick one favorite per category; ranking is by total poll votes
·When category voting ends, close each poll and seed the championship from Settings → Finale
·In Settings → Finale, set how many advance per source division (e.g., top 4 each)
·Run the finale as a Leaderboard poll or a Single-Elimination Bracket — your choice per division

How do I run a multi-category contest with a grand champion?

·Create one voting contest event, then one Leaderboard division per category
·Add a championship division under Admin → Settings → Finale (e.g., Best in Show)
·Link each category as a source and set how many advance (e.g., top 4 each → 16-entry finale)
·The event home shows category cards flowing into the finale with advancement badges
·Close all category polls, then seed the championship from Settings → Finale (or use auto-seed)
·Open finale voting — Leaderboard poll or Single-Elimination Bracket depending on division setup
·Winners do not auto-populate until categories are closed — seeding runs when sources are complete

Can voters use their phones?

·Yes — contest and poll pages are mobile-optimized
·Works on phones, tablets, and desktops
·Photo grids adapt from one column on small screens to several columns on large screens

What happens after someone votes in a poll?

·They see a voted confirmation on their choice
·They can change their vote anytime while the poll is open (one active vote per user or IP)
·Live contests update vote counts on the page as others vote
·Share buttons let them spread the contest link

Photo upload failed — what went wrong?

·File too large: must be under 5MB
·Wrong format: use JPEG, PNG, or WEBP
·Image too large: max 2048×2048 pixels
·The uploader shows a specific error for each case

Why can't employees see or vote on my contest?

·Draft status blocks all public access — change to Invite Only (private link) or Public before sharing
·Invite Only hides the event from browse/search but works for anyone with the direct URL
·Voting windows must be open — check Category settings for each category's start and end time
·If email domain is restricted, voters must sign in with an allowed address (e.g., @company.com)

How do I share the voting contest?

·Admin → Directory: copy poll links and a ready-to-send employee announcement
·Share the event page or individual category poll URLs by email, chat, or QR code
·For employee-only contests: set Invite Only status and remind people to sign in with an allowed company email
·Use Share Results on completed contests for social posts

Where are voting contest admin tools?

·Admin bar: Dashboard | Entries | Settings | Categories | Report | Directory
·Entries: Inbox (pending), All entries, Bulk upload (live category counts), Tools (reset after testing)
·Contest Settings: Categories, Voting Defaults, Finale (sources, advancement, seed/build bracket)
·Poll pages (organizers): shortcuts to Entries, Category settings, Contest settings, and Directory

How do I reset the contest after testing?

·Admin → Entries → Tools tab
·Type the exact contest name to confirm, then click Reset contest data
·Clears entries, photos, votes, and brackets across all categories — reopens closed polls
·Does not delete the event, categories, or contest settings

Ready to run your Voting Contest event?

Create your tournament on Brakto, or see the full dedicated guide for this format.

Related guides

More from the Help Center — setup, formats, clubs, and tournament day

All help articles

Event Format Guide

Explore all 8 available event formats (7 tournament/league formats + 1 voting contest). Select a format below to see the complete lifecycle.

Voting Contest

Let the crowd decide

What is Voting Contest?

Complete Lifecycle

Create contest and configure entry collection

SetupStep 1 of 6

Organizer

1Go to Create → Voting Contest (new contests start as Draft until you publish)
2After creation, use Admin → Directory for shareable poll links and a copy-ready employee announcement
3Choose format: Leaderboard (ranked poll), Bracket (head-to-head), or Hybrid (poll → bracket)
4Select entry mode: Organizer adds all (private), public submissions (open), or both
5Optional: pick a template (coffee cupping, photo contest, best pizza, etc.)
6Set contest name, description, and brand color
7After creation: Admin → Settings → Voting Defaults (who can vote, email domain, submissions, photos)

Player

1If public submissions enabled: organizer shares the contest or category poll link
2If organizer-managed: wait for contest to open for voting
3No tournament registration page — sign in on category poll pages to submit or vote
4Event home Overview tab: Contest Categories section shows each category and how top finishers advance to the finale
5Categories tab lists all polls; Competitors tab lists approved entries

Key Characteristics

No tournament registration — voters sign in to Brakto and submit or vote on category poll pages
Invite-only or public visibility with optional @company.com email restriction
Event home shows category-to-finale flow when a championship division is configured (category grid → finale card)
Public event logo and header banner load for all visitors — no sign-in required to view the contest page
Real-time vote tallies and live leaderboards
Three formats: Leaderboard (up to 200), Bracket (4-64), Hybrid (poll → bracket)
Up to 5 photos per public entry; bulk upload for organizers (5MB each, 2048×2048 max)
Multiple entries per person allowed (e.g., one submission per pet); voting stays one vote per person per category
Mobile-optimized voting interface (works on all screen sizes)
Beautiful winners display with medals and trophies on completed contests
Cross-division championships: multiple category polls → configurable grand finale (Leaderboard or Bracket)
Optional contestant self-submission with organizer approval workflow
Copy-ready employee announcement email generated from your contest settings

Perfect For

Company pet photo contests (Cutest, Silliest, Most Photogenic, Most Unique → Best in Show)
Taste tests and product votes (coffee, pizza, cocktails)
Employee/community awards with departmental voting → company-wide winner
Audience choice brackets (movies, songs, sports debates)
Multi-category competitions with a single grand championship finale

Technical Details

Three format modes

·Leaderboard: Single-choice poll, ranked by vote count (up to 200 entries)
·Bracket: Head-to-head matchups, single elimination (4/8/16/32/64 entries)
·Hybrid: Open poll (up to 200) → organizer promotes top 4-64 into that division's bracket

Entry collection options

·Organizer adds all: You upload all photos and manage entries
·Public submissions: Contestants self-submit with optional approval workflow
·Both: Pre-seed some entries + allow public submissions

Voting settings

·Contest-wide defaults: Admin → Settings → Voting Defaults (visibility, login, email domain, submissions)
·Per-category overrides: Category settings on each division (shortcut on poll pages or Settings → Categories)
·Who can vote: Public (no login) or Registered users only
·Max votes per user: Limit how many bracket matchups one person can vote on (optional)
·Voting windows: Set open/close date and time per category division

Private employee contests (no registration)

·Voting contests do not use the tournament registration page — no entry fees or player roster signup
·Set status to Invite Only: hidden from public browse, works for anyone with the direct link
·Employees create a free Brakto account (or sign in), then submit and vote on category poll pages
·Restrict to your company with Registered users only + allowed email domain (e.g., @company.com)
·Admin → Directory generates a copy-ready announcement with poll links and schedule

Photo requirements

·Public submissions: up to 5 photos per entry (first photo is the poll thumbnail)
·Max file size: 5MB per photo (automatically validated)
·Max dimensions: 2048×2048 pixels (oversized images rejected)
·Supported formats: JPEG, PNG, WEBP (system validates on upload)
·Bulk upload (Admin → Entries → Bulk upload): select many files, assign each to a category; dropdown shows live entry counts
·Invalid files show user-friendly error messages with retry option

Organizer admin tools

·Admin bar: Dashboard | Entries | Settings | Categories | Report | Directory
·Entries hub: Inbox (pending approvals), All entries, Bulk upload, Tools (reset contest data after testing)
·Contest Settings tabs: Categories (links + poll closer), Voting Defaults, Finale (sources, advancement, seed bracket)
·Category settings: per-category voting windows and overrides — shortcut on poll pages or Settings → Categories
·Directory: all shareable poll links, workflow steps, and employee email draft
·Poll page (organizers): Manage entries, Category settings, Contest settings, Directory, Close for championship, Change mode
·Legacy /admin/submissions URLs redirect to Entries

Mobile & accessibility

·Fully responsive design works on screens as small as 320px (iPhone SE)
·Photo grid adapts: 1 column on phones, up to 5 columns on large screens
·Touch-optimized voting buttons for easy tapping
·Fast loading with optimized images and real-time updates

Security & fraud prevention

·Email domain restriction: Limit voting and submissions to specific domains (e.g., @company.com)
·Rate limiting: 30 votes per minute per IP to prevent spam
·Duplicate vote prevention: One vote per person per category (by login or IP for public polls)
·Multiple submissions per person are allowed; each approved entry is a separate competitor on the ballot
·Server-side validation ensures all voting rules are enforced securely

Category-to-finale flow (multi-category contests)

·Typical setup: 4 category polls (Leaderboard) + 1 championship division (Best in Show)
·Event home Overview: category cards in a grid with an arrow into the finale card — shows "Top N per category"
·Each category card badge: "Top N → finale" so voters know how advancement works
·Example: top 4 from each of 4 categories → 16 finalists in a single-elimination finale bracket
·Category phase and finale phase use separate voting open/close windows
·Public branding (logo, header banner) loads for logged-out visitors on the event page

Cross-Division Championships (Advanced)

·Create one division per category (e.g., Cutest, Silliest, Most Photogenic, Most Unique)
·Add a championship division in Admin → Settings → Finale
·Per source division: set how many advance (e.g., top 4 per category → 16-entry finale)
·Seeding — Placement: top finishers by poll votes or bracket results; Seed: by original seed; Random
·Poll-only path: Leaderboard in each category → close polls → seed finale from top poll finishers
·Finale division can be Leaderboard (pick one winner) or Single-Elimination Bracket (head-to-head)
·Hybrid path: poll → category bracket in each division, then advance winner(s) to championship
·Auto-seed (default): when every category poll closes, finalists populate the championship automatically
·Championship supports up to 64 entries (auto byes if bracket mode)

FAQs

We have ~100 employees and want a company pet photo contest with no entry fees. What setup do you recommend?

·Create a Voting Contest with one Leaderboard (poll) division per category — Cutest, Silliest, Most Photogenic, Most Unique (each supports up to 200 entries)
·Add a Best in Show championship division under Admin → Settings → Finale — advance top 4 from each category (16 finalists)
·Turn on public submissions with organizer approval so employees upload their own pet photos
·Admin → Settings → Voting Defaults: registered users only + allowed email domain (e.g., @company.com)
·Set contest status to Invite Only — private link for employees, no tournament registration or fees
·Set category voting window first, then a separate finale window after categories close
·Admin → Directory: copy the auto-generated announcement with poll links and voting schedule
·Employees can submit multiple pets — each submission is a separate entry on the ballot
·Voting stays one favorite per person per category; submissions are unlimited while the window is open

How do I prevent duplicate voting?

·Set voting restriction to Registered users only (recommended for employee contests)
·Public voting allows one vote per IP address — easier for voters but easier to abuse
·Optional email domain restriction limits who can vote and submit
·Bracket mode: optional max votes per user caps how many matchups one person can vote on

Can I add more entries after voting starts?

·Yes for Leaderboard and Hybrid poll phases (up to 200 entries per division)
·Bracket mode: you can add entries but must regenerate the bracket, which resets all matches
·Best practice: finish submissions and approvals before you promote the contest widely

How do I approve or reject public submissions?

·Admin → Entries → Inbox: see all pending, approved, and rejected counts
·All entries tab shows every submission; Bulk upload adds organizer photos with live category counts
·Filter by submitter email to find a specific person's photos quickly
·Click an entry to preview full-size photos (including all images in a multi-photo submission)
·Approve or reject from the grid or the preview — approved entries go live on the poll immediately
·Category poll pages show Manage entries with a pending badge when review is needed
·Organizers receive email when new submissions arrive (if notifications are enabled)

Can one employee submit more than one pet or photo?

·Yes — each submit is a new entry (multiple pets, multiple submissions over time)
·Up to 5 photos per submission; the first photo is the thumbnail on the poll
·Employees can target one category or several at once when they submit
·Voting is still one vote per person per category — separate from how many entries they uploaded

Hybrid mode: when does the bracket start?

·The poll (Leaderboard) phase runs first — you choose how many advance (4, 8, 16, 32, or 64)
·When ready, open Change mode on the category poll page and click Promote to bracket
·That builds a single-elimination bracket in the same category division
·Voters then choose winners in head-to-head matchups until that category has a champion
·Closing the poll alone does not auto-create the bracket — promotion is a deliberate admin step

Can category polls feed a grand championship without a category bracket?

·Yes — use Leaderboard mode for each category (poll only, no head-to-head in that division)
·Voters pick one favorite per category; ranking is by total poll votes
·When category voting ends, close each poll and seed the championship from Settings → Finale
·In Settings → Finale, set how many advance per source division (e.g., top 4 each)
·Run the finale as a Leaderboard poll or a Single-Elimination Bracket — your choice per division

How do I run a multi-category contest with a grand champion?

·Create one voting contest event, then one Leaderboard division per category
·Add a championship division under Admin → Settings → Finale (e.g., Best in Show)
·Link each category as a source and set how many advance (e.g., top 4 each → 16-entry finale)
·The event home shows category cards flowing into the finale with advancement badges
·Close all category polls, then seed the championship from Settings → Finale (or use auto-seed)
·Open finale voting — Leaderboard poll or Single-Elimination Bracket depending on division setup
·Winners do not auto-populate until categories are closed — seeding runs when sources are complete

Can voters use their phones?

·Yes — contest and poll pages are mobile-optimized
·Works on phones, tablets, and desktops
·Photo grids adapt from one column on small screens to several columns on large screens

What happens after someone votes in a poll?

·They see a voted confirmation on their choice
·They can change their vote anytime while the poll is open (one active vote per user or IP)
·Live contests update vote counts on the page as others vote
·Share buttons let them spread the contest link

Photo upload failed — what went wrong?

·File too large: must be under 5MB
·Wrong format: use JPEG, PNG, or WEBP
·Image too large: max 2048×2048 pixels
·The uploader shows a specific error for each case

Why can't employees see or vote on my contest?

·Draft status blocks all public access — change to Invite Only (private link) or Public before sharing
·Invite Only hides the event from browse/search but works for anyone with the direct URL
·Voting windows must be open — check Category settings for each category's start and end time
·If email domain is restricted, voters must sign in with an allowed address (e.g., @company.com)

How do I share the voting contest?

·Admin → Directory: copy poll links and a ready-to-send employee announcement
·Share the event page or individual category poll URLs by email, chat, or QR code
·For employee-only contests: set Invite Only status and remind people to sign in with an allowed company email
·Use Share Results on completed contests for social posts

Where are voting contest admin tools?

·Admin bar: Dashboard | Entries | Settings | Categories | Report | Directory
·Entries: Inbox (pending), All entries, Bulk upload (live category counts), Tools (reset after testing)
·Contest Settings: Categories, Voting Defaults, Finale (sources, advancement, seed/build bracket)
·Poll pages (organizers): shortcuts to Entries, Category settings, Contest settings, and Directory

How do I reset the contest after testing?

·Admin → Entries → Tools tab
·Type the exact contest name to confirm, then click Reset contest data
·Clears entries, photos, votes, and brackets across all categories — reopens closed polls
·Does not delete the event, categories, or contest settings

Ready to run your Voting Contest event?

Create your tournament on Brakto, or see the full dedicated guide for this format.

Event Format Guide

Explore all 8 available event formats (7 tournament/league formats + 1 voting contest). Select a format below to see the complete lifecycle.

Voting Contest

Let the crowd decide

What is Voting Contest?

Complete Lifecycle

Create contest and configure entry collection

SetupStep 1 of 6

Organizer

1Go to Create → Voting Contest (new contests start as Draft until you publish)
2After creation, use Admin → Directory for shareable poll links and a copy-ready employee announcement
3Choose format: Leaderboard (ranked poll), Bracket (head-to-head), or Hybrid (poll → bracket)
4Select entry mode: Organizer adds all (private), public submissions (open), or both
5Optional: pick a template (coffee cupping, photo contest, best pizza, etc.)
6Set contest name, description, and brand color
7After creation: Admin → Settings → Voting Defaults (who can vote, email domain, submissions, photos)

Player

1If public submissions enabled: organizer shares the contest or category poll link
2If organizer-managed: wait for contest to open for voting
3No tournament registration page — sign in on category poll pages to submit or vote
4Event home Overview tab: Contest Categories section shows each category and how top finishers advance to the finale
5Categories tab lists all polls; Competitors tab lists approved entries

Key Characteristics

No tournament registration — voters sign in to Brakto and submit or vote on category poll pages
Invite-only or public visibility with optional @company.com email restriction
Event home shows category-to-finale flow when a championship division is configured (category grid → finale card)
Public event logo and header banner load for all visitors — no sign-in required to view the contest page
Real-time vote tallies and live leaderboards
Three formats: Leaderboard (up to 200), Bracket (4-64), Hybrid (poll → bracket)
Up to 5 photos per public entry; bulk upload for organizers (5MB each, 2048×2048 max)
Multiple entries per person allowed (e.g., one submission per pet); voting stays one vote per person per category
Mobile-optimized voting interface (works on all screen sizes)
Beautiful winners display with medals and trophies on completed contests
Cross-division championships: multiple category polls → configurable grand finale (Leaderboard or Bracket)
Optional contestant self-submission with organizer approval workflow
Copy-ready employee announcement email generated from your contest settings

Perfect For

Company pet photo contests (Cutest, Silliest, Most Photogenic, Most Unique → Best in Show)
Taste tests and product votes (coffee, pizza, cocktails)
Employee/community awards with departmental voting → company-wide winner
Audience choice brackets (movies, songs, sports debates)
Multi-category competitions with a single grand championship finale

Technical Details

Three format modes

·Leaderboard: Single-choice poll, ranked by vote count (up to 200 entries)
·Bracket: Head-to-head matchups, single elimination (4/8/16/32/64 entries)
·Hybrid: Open poll (up to 200) → organizer promotes top 4-64 into that division's bracket

Entry collection options

·Organizer adds all: You upload all photos and manage entries
·Public submissions: Contestants self-submit with optional approval workflow
·Both: Pre-seed some entries + allow public submissions

Voting settings

·Contest-wide defaults: Admin → Settings → Voting Defaults (visibility, login, email domain, submissions)
·Per-category overrides: Category settings on each division (shortcut on poll pages or Settings → Categories)
·Who can vote: Public (no login) or Registered users only
·Max votes per user: Limit how many bracket matchups one person can vote on (optional)
·Voting windows: Set open/close date and time per category division

Private employee contests (no registration)

·Voting contests do not use the tournament registration page — no entry fees or player roster signup
·Set status to Invite Only: hidden from public browse, works for anyone with the direct link
·Employees create a free Brakto account (or sign in), then submit and vote on category poll pages
·Restrict to your company with Registered users only + allowed email domain (e.g., @company.com)
·Admin → Directory generates a copy-ready announcement with poll links and schedule

Photo requirements

·Public submissions: up to 5 photos per entry (first photo is the poll thumbnail)
·Max file size: 5MB per photo (automatically validated)
·Max dimensions: 2048×2048 pixels (oversized images rejected)
·Supported formats: JPEG, PNG, WEBP (system validates on upload)
·Bulk upload (Admin → Entries → Bulk upload): select many files, assign each to a category; dropdown shows live entry counts
·Invalid files show user-friendly error messages with retry option

Organizer admin tools

·Admin bar: Dashboard | Entries | Settings | Categories | Report | Directory
·Entries hub: Inbox (pending approvals), All entries, Bulk upload, Tools (reset contest data after testing)
·Contest Settings tabs: Categories (links + poll closer), Voting Defaults, Finale (sources, advancement, seed bracket)
·Category settings: per-category voting windows and overrides — shortcut on poll pages or Settings → Categories
·Directory: all shareable poll links, workflow steps, and employee email draft
·Poll page (organizers): Manage entries, Category settings, Contest settings, Directory, Close for championship, Change mode
·Legacy /admin/submissions URLs redirect to Entries

Mobile & accessibility

·Fully responsive design works on screens as small as 320px (iPhone SE)
·Photo grid adapts: 1 column on phones, up to 5 columns on large screens
·Touch-optimized voting buttons for easy tapping
·Fast loading with optimized images and real-time updates

Security & fraud prevention

·Email domain restriction: Limit voting and submissions to specific domains (e.g., @company.com)
·Rate limiting: 30 votes per minute per IP to prevent spam
·Duplicate vote prevention: One vote per person per category (by login or IP for public polls)
·Multiple submissions per person are allowed; each approved entry is a separate competitor on the ballot
·Server-side validation ensures all voting rules are enforced securely

Category-to-finale flow (multi-category contests)

·Typical setup: 4 category polls (Leaderboard) + 1 championship division (Best in Show)
·Event home Overview: category cards in a grid with an arrow into the finale card — shows "Top N per category"
·Each category card badge: "Top N → finale" so voters know how advancement works
·Example: top 4 from each of 4 categories → 16 finalists in a single-elimination finale bracket
·Category phase and finale phase use separate voting open/close windows
·Public branding (logo, header banner) loads for logged-out visitors on the event page

Cross-Division Championships (Advanced)

·Create one division per category (e.g., Cutest, Silliest, Most Photogenic, Most Unique)
·Add a championship division in Admin → Settings → Finale
·Per source division: set how many advance (e.g., top 4 per category → 16-entry finale)
·Seeding — Placement: top finishers by poll votes or bracket results; Seed: by original seed; Random
·Poll-only path: Leaderboard in each category → close polls → seed finale from top poll finishers
·Finale division can be Leaderboard (pick one winner) or Single-Elimination Bracket (head-to-head)
·Hybrid path: poll → category bracket in each division, then advance winner(s) to championship
·Auto-seed (default): when every category poll closes, finalists populate the championship automatically
·Championship supports up to 64 entries (auto byes if bracket mode)

FAQs

We have ~100 employees and want a company pet photo contest with no entry fees. What setup do you recommend?

·Create a Voting Contest with one Leaderboard (poll) division per category — Cutest, Silliest, Most Photogenic, Most Unique (each supports up to 200 entries)
·Add a Best in Show championship division under Admin → Settings → Finale — advance top 4 from each category (16 finalists)
·Turn on public submissions with organizer approval so employees upload their own pet photos
·Admin → Settings → Voting Defaults: registered users only + allowed email domain (e.g., @company.com)
·Set contest status to Invite Only — private link for employees, no tournament registration or fees
·Set category voting window first, then a separate finale window after categories close
·Admin → Directory: copy the auto-generated announcement with poll links and voting schedule
·Employees can submit multiple pets — each submission is a separate entry on the ballot
·Voting stays one favorite per person per category; submissions are unlimited while the window is open

How do I prevent duplicate voting?

·Set voting restriction to Registered users only (recommended for employee contests)
·Public voting allows one vote per IP address — easier for voters but easier to abuse
·Optional email domain restriction limits who can vote and submit
·Bracket mode: optional max votes per user caps how many matchups one person can vote on

Can I add more entries after voting starts?

·Yes for Leaderboard and Hybrid poll phases (up to 200 entries per division)
·Bracket mode: you can add entries but must regenerate the bracket, which resets all matches
·Best practice: finish submissions and approvals before you promote the contest widely

How do I approve or reject public submissions?

·Admin → Entries → Inbox: see all pending, approved, and rejected counts
·All entries tab shows every submission; Bulk upload adds organizer photos with live category counts
·Filter by submitter email to find a specific person's photos quickly
·Click an entry to preview full-size photos (including all images in a multi-photo submission)
·Approve or reject from the grid or the preview — approved entries go live on the poll immediately
·Category poll pages show Manage entries with a pending badge when review is needed
·Organizers receive email when new submissions arrive (if notifications are enabled)

Can one employee submit more than one pet or photo?

·Yes — each submit is a new entry (multiple pets, multiple submissions over time)
·Up to 5 photos per submission; the first photo is the thumbnail on the poll
·Employees can target one category or several at once when they submit
·Voting is still one vote per person per category — separate from how many entries they uploaded

Hybrid mode: when does the bracket start?

·The poll (Leaderboard) phase runs first — you choose how many advance (4, 8, 16, 32, or 64)
·When ready, open Change mode on the category poll page and click Promote to bracket
·That builds a single-elimination bracket in the same category division
·Voters then choose winners in head-to-head matchups until that category has a champion
·Closing the poll alone does not auto-create the bracket — promotion is a deliberate admin step

Can category polls feed a grand championship without a category bracket?

·Yes — use Leaderboard mode for each category (poll only, no head-to-head in that division)
·Voters pick one favorite per category; ranking is by total poll votes
·When category voting ends, close each poll and seed the championship from Settings → Finale
·In Settings → Finale, set how many advance per source division (e.g., top 4 each)
·Run the finale as a Leaderboard poll or a Single-Elimination Bracket — your choice per division

How do I run a multi-category contest with a grand champion?

·Create one voting contest event, then one Leaderboard division per category
·Add a championship division under Admin → Settings → Finale (e.g., Best in Show)
·Link each category as a source and set how many advance (e.g., top 4 each → 16-entry finale)
·The event home shows category cards flowing into the finale with advancement badges
·Close all category polls, then seed the championship from Settings → Finale (or use auto-seed)
·Open finale voting — Leaderboard poll or Single-Elimination Bracket depending on division setup
·Winners do not auto-populate until categories are closed — seeding runs when sources are complete

Can voters use their phones?

·Yes — contest and poll pages are mobile-optimized
·Works on phones, tablets, and desktops
·Photo grids adapt from one column on small screens to several columns on large screens

What happens after someone votes in a poll?

·They see a voted confirmation on their choice
·They can change their vote anytime while the poll is open (one active vote per user or IP)
·Live contests update vote counts on the page as others vote
·Share buttons let them spread the contest link

Photo upload failed — what went wrong?

·File too large: must be under 5MB
·Wrong format: use JPEG, PNG, or WEBP
·Image too large: max 2048×2048 pixels
·The uploader shows a specific error for each case

Why can't employees see or vote on my contest?

·Draft status blocks all public access — change to Invite Only (private link) or Public before sharing
·Invite Only hides the event from browse/search but works for anyone with the direct URL
·Voting windows must be open — check Category settings for each category's start and end time
·If email domain is restricted, voters must sign in with an allowed address (e.g., @company.com)

How do I share the voting contest?

·Admin → Directory: copy poll links and a ready-to-send employee announcement
·Share the event page or individual category poll URLs by email, chat, or QR code
·For employee-only contests: set Invite Only status and remind people to sign in with an allowed company email
·Use Share Results on completed contests for social posts

Where are voting contest admin tools?

·Admin bar: Dashboard | Entries | Settings | Categories | Report | Directory
·Entries: Inbox (pending), All entries, Bulk upload (live category counts), Tools (reset after testing)
·Contest Settings: Categories, Voting Defaults, Finale (sources, advancement, seed/build bracket)
·Poll pages (organizers): shortcuts to Entries, Category settings, Contest settings, and Directory

How do I reset the contest after testing?

·Admin → Entries → Tools tab
·Type the exact contest name to confirm, then click Reset contest data
·Clears entries, photos, votes, and brackets across all categories — reopens closed polls
·Does not delete the event, categories, or contest settings

Ready to run your Voting Contest event?

Create your tournament on Brakto, or see the full dedicated guide for this format.

Voting Contest Format Guide — Polls, Brackets & Championships | Brakto