Many many thanks once again Chris for your kind assistance and time spent in testing this for us and the suggestions made. Very much appreciated.
We are still frustratingly in limbo and have had to embarrassingly suspend the poll for now and strenuously explain the situation to our collaborating partners and the contestants.
Needless to say, with an opportunity for a sponsored overseas travel for the poll's winner, the contestants were not the very least impressed as they had started campaigning vigorously for votes soon as the poll went live yesterday. :-( :-(