It’s time for a happy #esc tradition to take place once again. ChatVote 2012 is now open!

In the run-up to every ESC, the regular members of the #esc chatroom gather to vote and find out their favourite song from that year’s contest. Last year, our chosen champion was Hungary – sadly, though, Kati Wolf didn’t repeat her success in Düsseldorf. And that was far from the only time that our results differed somewhat from reality, as you can see in the ChatVote history section here – although we have been known to agree with the actual winner on occasion!

Like last year, ChatVote 2012 will include semi-finals. These are now open for voting. Please note that, at this stage of proceedings, we are not yet asking for your ESC-style (1-12) votes: we simply want to know your ten favourites from each semi-final, in no particular order. These will then be combined to find the ten qualifiers from semi 1 and semi 2 respectively.

As always, you can find the song videos and other information over at eurovision.tv – or if you simply need a list of the entries to remind you, there’s one right here on esc-chat.com.

Please send a list of your ten favourites from each semi-final to vote@esc-chat.com by no later than 23:59 CET on Thursday 26 April, including your regular chat nickname so that we know who you are!

A brief revelation show for the semi-final qualifiers will be held in the chat at 21:00 CET on Friday 27 April – we’d love to see you there, but if you can’t make it, the results will (of course) be published here on the website straight afterwards.

As for the ChatVote 2012 final, we’d like to give you the say as to when it takes place, as we want to make sure as many chatters as possible can attend and give their votes personally in the chat. We have identified the two most optimal dates for the organising team – so, as well as sending us your semi-final votes, please reply to our poll question below and tell us your preference (if you have one). We’ll announce the chosen date as part of the finalist revelation show on Friday 27 April, and on the website too.

Any questions about ChatVote 2012 can be sent to vote@esc-chat.com – or just bug MartinF if you see him in the chatroom. We look forward to your participation!

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