How does a work get onto the Preliminary Ballot?
Throughout the calendar year, Active SFWA Members “recommend” works for the Preliminary Ballot. This is a formal nomination process. A work that receives 10 recommendations within its eligibility period qualifies to appear on the next Preliminary Ballot. A work’s eligibility period runs for 12 months, counting from its official month of publication. Thus, a work that was published in June 2004 is eligible to receive recommendations until May 31st, 2005. This rolling eligibility period is intended to level the playing field so that works published at particular times of the year do not receive any benefit. As a consequence of rolling eligibility, a work published as early as February 2003 may appear on the 2004 Preliminary Ballot (if it receives its 10th recommendation in January 2004, which is too late for it to appear on the 2003 Preliminary Ballot). Scripts work slightly differently—they are eligibile for 365 days from their first on-air day or day of release. In addition, the Andre
