There is some misleading information going around that needs to be clarified
All votes cast on the FanFiction contest page count as the Public vote. There will be a first, second, and third place award decided by the PUBLIC vote on the FF poll.
The Pay it Forward vote is something different; just an additional award, in lieu of the host award. The group hosted the contest, so we found it fitting that they get their own vote.
Every vote counts.