Prerequisites
Before starting, confirm the following steps have already been completed:
Merge Recommendations are complete
Fraud Recommendations are complete
Manual Normalization is complete
These steps ensure the data is clean before moving forward.
Step 1: Star Submissions on Nominations Ballot
Navigate to Submissions.
Use the Star Submissions feature to determine how many submissions will roll over to the final voting ballot.
Choose whether to:
Include TIES (includes all submissions tied for the last position), or
Ignore TIES (limits to the set number only).
Select the star option. The system may take a few minutes to apply stars automatically.
Verify the stars by clicking into a category. (Optional)
Step 2: Export Starred Submissions
Go to Export.
Select Export Winners and Starred Only.
Download the CSV file.
Step 3: Prepare the CSV File
Open the exported CSV file.
Delete the following columns (not needed for import):
Number of Votes
Rank
Update the menu header:
Change
submissiontopre_choice(with underscore).
Select the entire sheet and apply a Custom Sort:
Sort by Column A
Then Column B
Then Column C
This ensures:
Groups are alphabetized
Categories are alphabetized
Pre‑populated choices are alphabetized within categories
Move the menu header back to the top if it was displaced.
Save and download the file as a CSV.
Step 4: Clone the Nominations Ballot
Go back to thebestof.cityspark.com.
Select the Best Of Ballots.
Choose Clone Ballot in the top right.
Select:
The nominations ballot to clone
Enter the new name for the final voting ballot
Choose whether to include original ads (optional).
Set Voting Style to Disable write-ins.
Click Convert.
Notes:
Custom voting links are not cloned.
Sponsorship Ads, Group Ads, and Category Ads are cloned.
Pre‑populated choices are not included at this stage so if you have cloned the ads and you have Profile Cards you will need to duplicate them in the Final Voting ballot to attach the profile card to the pre-populated choice that will be added later.
Step 5: Import the Alphabetized CSV File
Go to Best of Ballots.
Select the newly created Final Voting Ballot.
Under Ballot Setup, choose Import.
Select Import Final List.
Upload the alphabetized CSV file.
Confirm the import is complete.
Verify by opening the ballot builder and checking that pre‑populated choices are alphabetized.
Step 6: Update Ballot Settings
Design Settings
Update landing page content to reflect final voting
General Settings
Update meta tags and share information
Replace references to nominations with final voting
Set submission button text (recommended: Vote)
Save changes
Step 7: Publish & Privacy Settings
Review Publish Settings (dates may still reflect nominations).
Update voting start/end dates if needed.
Configure Privacy Settings:
Landing page only, or
Full ballot view with voting disabled
Click Save and Publish.
Step 8: Update Website Map
Go to Org Settings.
Select Domains.
Choose Change Website Map.
Select the new final voting ballot.
Click Save Website Map.
Your domain will now display the final voting ballot.
Step 9: Advertising & Profile Cards
Review any cloned ads under Advertising.
If profile cards were used:
Duplicate the profile card.
Update the group and category.
Attach it to the correct pre‑populated choice.
Save.
Completion
You have successfully spun up a final voting ballot from your nominations ballot with alphabetized pre‑populated choices.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to us at support@cityspark.com.—We’re happy to help!