Rules

## ​General Rules, Countries and Songs

1. You may invite your friends to join the contest and add them to our Facebook group  - as long as they respect the following rules.
2. From edition twelve, the structure for the editions will be reinstated.  This means that every four editions there will be a thematic edition (e.g. Edition 12 is going to be a thematic edition, then editions 13, 14 and 15 will be regular, and then edition 16 will be another thematic edition).  The themes will be suggested by the four previous winners which will be put in a poll and opened up to the Facebook group - the theme which receives the most votes will be the theme that is selected for that thematic edition.
3. You can choose any country from around the world to participate with - you can see the list of currently participating countries here.
4. You can feel free to switch countries, however, you can only have one country at a time.
5. If you need/want to take a break from the contest for any reason, you can reserve your country for when you return.  However, after being absent for more than four editions your country will no longer be reserved.
6. You can select an entry either via internal selection or a selection process.  If you decide to hold a national selection, you are allowed a maximum of two semi-finals that will lead to a final - you are allowed a maximum of six countries in each semi-final - so a maximum of twelve songs can take part in a national selection.  Finally, once you have selected your entry either post it in the Facebook group or send it to one of the admins (you may selected your own recap time or the admin team can choose it for you).
7. When you select your song - the singer/group must be either native, born , live, have close relations (i.e. parents or grandparents) or specific links to the country you want them to participate for (i.e. took part in a contest in the certain country - for example, Elhaida Dani could participate for Italy).  If you are unsure whether you can use an artist please feel free to message someone on the admin team.
8. If you are using a band/group one member must have links to your chosen country - again if you are unsure please feel free to message one of the admins.
9. An artist cannot represent two countries in the same edition.
10. Songs may only be used once in the contest - check the wikia page for all previously used songs - so remember to choose wisely haha.
11. Eurovision songs are allowed to participate in this contest - however, you cannot pick a winning song (for example, Loreen with "Euphoria" or Conchita Wurst with "Rise Like a Phoenix").
12. Covers and remixes of songs are allowed, as long as the artist who remixed the song or covered it are from the chosen country.

## ​Voting

1. Voting is in the same style as Eurovision (i.e. awarding points in the following manner: 12, 10 and 8-1 points).
2. Votes need to be sent to any member of the admin team (Grant, Harry, Gustavo or Andrew).  The voting window for the semi-finals will be four days and the voting window for the final will be a week.
3. Each edition there will be a group called 'The Power Six', this is a group of six countries that placed in the top six from the previous edition.  These countries will all recieve an automatic place in the final of that edition.
4. If there are enough participating countries there will be semi-finals.  You MUST vote in your semi-final and if you want you can vote in the other semi-final(s) - although if you are part of the power six you can only vote in the semi-final you are allocated to vote in.
5. For obvious reasons you cannot vote for your own country.
6. If you fail to make the final, you are still able to vote in the final, however, you do not have to - it is your personal choice.If you fail to vote before the deadline, your votes will be selected at random by the admin in charge of the semi-final or final.  This will be done by a fair process, using an online randomiser programme.  If you are unable to vote and know you will not be able to, let an admin know in advanced and we may be able to extend the voting deadline to accomodate your needs.

## Semi-Final Rules

1. A minimum of thirty-four countries are required to have two semi-finals in an edition.  A minimum of forty-eight countries are required to have three semi-finals in an edition.
2. When there are two semi-finals, ten countries from each semi-final will qualify to the grand final.  When there are three semi-finals, seven countries from each semi-final will qualify for the grand final.  Also, in addition to the qualifiers a wilcard entry will be selected from each semi-final (two wildcard entries if there are two semi-finals and three wildcard entries if there are three semi-finals) by the admin team to progress to the final.
3. Our admin, Harry, will host a live stream on the Facebook page to allocate the countries to each of the semi-finals as well as the position they will perform - similar to the process taken in the Eurovision Song Contest.  The countries are organised into pots based on an average of each countries success in previous editions.
4. If the admins are taking part in the semi-finals, they will be automatically allocated to a semi-final that is not their own to avoid any bias and to make the contest a bit more exciting for the admins.  They will be drawn in a similar way to the other countries.
5. Voting will comence once the recap is posted on the Facebook group and the voting window will be open for four days.
6. Countries who are taking part in the semi-finals have to vote in the semi-final they are allocated to. They have the option to vote on the other semi final(s) as well.
7. The Power Six will be given a semi-final to vote in. They are only allowed to vote in the semi-final they are allocated to, however, they are not obligated to vote.
8. If an obligated country does not vote in their semi-final, their points will be randomised and will be disqualified as a result. They may receive a one edition ban as a punishment for failing to vote.