Judging

Configure how entries are evaluated, invite judges, assign entries, and run multi-round review with weighted scoring criteria or simple Top Picks.

The Judging tab brings together everything you need to run fair, defensible evaluation. Choose a voting method, set up your judge panel, configure how entries are distributed, and let judges score independently.

Pick a voting method

AwardKit supports two voting methods. Choose based on how detailed you want scoring to be:

Score Criteria: judges score every entry on weighted criteria you define (Impact, Innovation, etc.). Best for professional awards programs where you want the scoring to be auditable.
Top Picks: judges pick and rank their favorite entries (no per-criterion scoring). Best for shortlist rounds, smaller programs, or when you want gut-feel evaluation.

You can switch methods at any point before judges start scoring.

Build your judge panel

Add judges one by one or import a CSV of last year's panel. Every judge gets a unique link, no account required.

For programs with conflict-of-interest considerations, configure judge assignment so each judge only sees the entries they're qualified to evaluate.

Open audience voting (optional)

For People's Choice awards or community engagement, enable audience voting. Anyone with the link can vote, no account needed. Audience votes are tracked separately from judge scores so you can publish a "People's Choice" alongside the juried winners.

What's next?

Voting methods

Score Criteria vs. Top Picks, weights, and category-scoped criteria.

Adding judges

Invite judges by name and email. No account required for them.

Judge assignment

All-judges, per-judge, or rooms-based assignment for large panels.

Judging interface

What judges see when they open their link and start scoring.