1. No purchase is necessary to participate. All federal, state, local and municipal laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited. Promotion period begins on September 15, 2013 and ends on October 1, 2013.

2. Agreement to official rules. By participating in the Opelika-Auburn News’ Reader’s Choice Awards (also referred to as the “Promotion”), participant fully agrees to and accepts these official rules and the decisions of the Opelika-Auburn News(also referred to as the “Sponsor”) which are final and binding in all respects. Failure to comply with the official rules will result in disqualification from the Promotion.

3. Eligibility. Opelika-Auburn News’ Reader’s Choice Awards is open to US residents who reside within a 50-mile radius of the Opelika-Auburn area, who are 19 years or older at the time of participation. A voter must reside in such area for such person’s vote to be valid.

4. Voting Process. Voting in the Opelika-Auburn News’ Reader’s Choice Awards will run on www.oanow.com and in print ballots in the Opelika-Auburn News from September  15, 2013– October  1,  2013. The business which receives the highest number of votes in accordance with these rules as determined by Sponsor will be announced by Sponsor as the winner of the Opelika-Auburn News’ Reader’s Choice Awards.  Voting is limited to one vote per participant per day. All voting requires a valid registration which satisfies these rules.  Registration and voting is completed through a third party vendor, UPickem Inc. In the event of a tie, the winning business will be chosen by random drawing from among all tied entries. Only one registration per person.  Registration requires a valid and active e-mail address. Any participant suspected of using a proxy for voting, concealing one’s true identity, registering in the name of a fictitious person or registering in the name of a real person without such person’s authorization will be disqualified. All registration information submitted by voters to the contest must be valid. In the event UPickem or the Sponsor believes a registration was not valid or violated these rules, any votes related to such registration will be disqualified. Automated voting is not allowed and such votes will be disqualified. Any individual or organization found employing third-party resources, whether domestic or abroad, for the purpose of creating multiple registrations or generating votes in violation of these rules, either automatically or manually, will be immediately disqualified. Votes may not be sold, bought or paid for. All registration and voting must follow these Official Rules.

6. Winners List. The Opelika-Auburn News’ Readers’ Choice Awards winners in each category will be posted online at www.oanow.com/readerschoice after the voting period has ended and sufficient time has past for the votes to be tallied. This information will also be published in a special keepsake section of the Opelika-Auburn News in the month of October.

7. General Conditions. By participating in the Promotion, participants agree to comply with and to be bound by the official rules and by all interpretations of the official rules by the Sponsor. Decisions of the Opelika-Auburn News shall be final in all matters relating to the Promotion. The Opelika-Auburn News reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the Promotion if fraud, technical failures, or any other factor beyond the Opelika-Auburn News’ reasonable control impairs the integrity of the Promotion and the integrity of the selection of the winners as determined by theOpelika-Auburn News in its sole discretion. In such event, the Opelika-Auburn News reserves the right to award the awards in a random drawing from the eligible entries received up to the time of the impairment, or to implement any remedy it sees fit. Participants agree that by participating in the contest they are opting in to receive additional information and communications from the Opelika-Auburn News, their affiliates and advertising partners via email.

8. Release. By participating in the Promotion, all participants agree to release and hold harmless the Sponsor and the Promotional Participants; each of their affiliates, parent companies, subsidiaries; and their respective officers, directors, employees and members, from and against any claim or cause of action arising in connection with each user’s participation in the Promotion. 

9. Sponsor. The Promotion is sponsored by the BH Media Inc. d/b/a Opelika-Auburn News, whose decisions regarding the selection of winners and all other aspects of the contest shall be final and binding on all persons in all respects. The Sponsor is not responsible for typographical, printing or other inadvertent errors in these Official Rules or in other materials relating to the contest.  If you have any questions regarding this contest please contact Tiffany Walker-Jones or write to 2901 Society Hill Road, Opelika-Auburn News.