The BBC run many programmes FILLED with public votes, Ralph, and those votes are counted within hours. There's no problem with it at all. The public vote was removed from the Folk Awards for one reason and that was because a band who, at the time, was NOT accepted by The Folk Establishment, won.

'Best Live Act' was the public vote subject.

After Show of Hands won this, Smooth Ops changed it to 'Best Dance Band' I believe, if my memory serves me correctly....and then the public vote disappeared all together.

Bellowhead won 'Best Live Act' the following year, again, as I recall, despite having only appeared live about 3 or 4 times that year. The public were not allowed to vote for Best Live Act at that time, nor have they been allowed to since, despite being the ones who pay the money to see the performers perform....