Voting Information
Voting for the BookTok Indie Author Awards is fully reader-driven.
Below is an overview of how voting works, how finalists are determined, and how winners are selected.
2026 Voting Timeline
Submissions & Nominations Open
April 1, 2026
Submissions Close
August 31, 2026
Round 1 Voting
September 1 —
October 1, 2026
Finalist Voting
October 2 —
November 13, 2026
Winners Announced
December 19, 2026
Live Show
How Voting Works
Round 1 Voting
All eligible submissions and nominations appear on the initial ballot.
Readers may vote across all categories. The highest-voted entries advance to the Finalist Round (Top 5).
Finalist Voting (Top 5)
Finalists move to a second public voting phase.
Votes reset at the start of this round to ensure fairness.
Winner Determination
Winners are determined solely by verified vote totals at the close of Finalist Voting.
No judging panel is involved.
Announcement
Winners are revealed during the official Live Show and promoted across awards platforms
Voting Guidelines
Voting limits may be applied to ensure fairness, including:
One vote per person per category
Device monitoring safeguards
Duplicate vote prevention
Voting occurs through the official ballot platform and is publicly accessible during voting windows.
No purchase or paid entry is required.
In the event of a tie:
A tie-break review may occur, or
Multiple winners may be recognized
All vote totals undergo integrity review prior to public announcement.
Voting Integrity Matters
All votes are monitored and reviewed to ensure fairness, transparency, and authenticity throughout the awards process.
Cast Your Vote
Voting is open for a limited time. Support your favorite indie authors by participating in the official ballot.