If management intended the "Artist of the year" to be decided by them "some time ago", then it was their responsibility to make the relevant announcement "some time ago". They didn't. Obviously, the only honest way they can make up for this mistake is to allow the votes of those who took the time to vote to count. And the only way to do that is to put the poll back up and allow the voting to continue. That way no harm is done. Deciding "the hell with you people who took the time to vote, we forgot to tell you the AOY was going to become our arbitrary corporate choice, we accidentally posted the poll, but that's all just tough luck to you" is nothing but stabbing your supporters in the back. There is no realistic way you can defend yourself from accusations of having closed the vote because you didn't like the result. If it was a mistake, it was too large a mistake. Besides which, regardless of whether it was a mistake or not, what exactly is the message supposed to be? The only reason that people are here and contribute their creative efforts here is because they feel it is an open forum where they can share their work with their peers. You are basically saying "well, it is no longer open. We control everything. You people stand or fall here according to our whim. If you don't like it, tough. Go elsewhere". That is the message you are sending. I don't believe that in the shuffle, that obvious message is being overlooked.