Frequently asked questions

What is Beat Matt's Ballot?

How did it come about?

Beat Matt's Ballot is an Oscars ballot contest recognizing individuals with a knack for guessing who will win at the Academy Awards. The contest was inspired by a rivalry among four close friends (Allison, Ellen, Lauren, & Matt) who started their own informal Oscars contest in 2011 while attending the University of Minnesota.

How does the contest work?

Does it cost to enter?

What can I win?

The contest's full rules can be found directly on the ballot (which uses a Google form).

Do you do anything special during the Oscars?

Yes - I update scores and rankings live during the awards show. Check your email as the show starts to air and receive a link to follow along in real-time.

Should I wait to submit my ballot until I've seen more movies?

There's no need to wait! The Google form will allow you to return to your ballot and edit your predictions after you submit. You can make as many revisions as you'd like right up until the moment the Oscars start to air, at which point I will lock the ballots.
To make ballot revisions, simply return to BeatMattsBallot.com and click 'My Ballot' to log back into the Google form.

May I share this contest with others?

Yes, please feel free to share with anyone who may be interested. The more the merrier.

How do I make good ballot predictions?

Research, research, research! I'm not giving away my secret sources, but many large entertainment publications (Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, etc.) often offer predictions. Message boards like Reddit can be a good resource as well.

Can I submit more than one ballot?

No, we are keeping it to one per person, but I appreciate your enthusiasm!

How can I share ideas/feedback on the contest?

I would love to hear from you; please send any comments to hauer.matt@gmail.com

Thanks for playing!

-Matt