1. Overview

PleaseVoteMe values your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and disclose your personal information when you use our online voting and contest platform, including when you create contests, participate as a contestant, or cast votes.

By using our Service, you confirm that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and our Terms and Conditions.

2. Definitions

• Company (referred to as "PleaseVoteMe", "we", "us" or "our") refers to PleaseVoteMe LLC, registered in New Jersey, United States.

• Service refers to the PleaseVoteMe website and contest platform accessible at https://www.pleasevoteme.com

• User refers to any individual who accesses or uses the Service, including contest organizers, contestants, and voters.

• Contest Organizer refers to a User who creates and manages a contest on our platform.

• Contestant refers to a User who participates in a contest hosted on our platform.

• Voter refers to a User who casts votes in a contest hosted on our platform.

• Personal Data refers to any information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual.

• Usage Data refers to data collected automatically that is generated by the use of the Service.

3. Information We Collect

3.1 Personal Information

Depending on your role and activities on our platform, we may collect different types of personal information:

For All Users

• Email address
• First and last name
• Phone number (optional)
• IP address and device information
• Login credentials

For Contest Organizers

• Payment information (processed securely through our payment providers)
• Business information and tax details (for payouts)
• Contest administration details

For Contestants

• Profile photos and videos
• Contest submission materials
• Biographical information provided for contest profiles
• Social media handles (if provided)

For Voters

• Voting history
• Payment information for premium votes (processed securely through our payment providers)
• Email verification data

3.2 Usage Information

We automatically collect certain information when you visit, use, or navigate our platform. This information does not reveal your specific identity but may include:

• Device and browser information
• IP address
• Operating system
• Referring URLs
• Pages visited and features used
• Click patterns and interaction with elements on our platform
• Time spent on pages

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

4.1 Platform Operations

• Creating and managing user accounts
• Processing and facilitating contest creation, participation, and voting
• Displaying contest results and rankings
• Processing payments and payouts
• Verifying user identities and preventing fraud
• Providing customer support

4.2 Contest-Specific Processing

• Enabling contest discovery and participation
• Processing contest votes and maintaining vote tallies
• Displaying contestant profiles and submissions
• Sharing contest results with participants
• Facilitating communication between organizers and contestants

4.3 Communications

• Sending administrative emails and notifications
• Providing updates about contests you've created, entered, or voted in
• Contacting you about your account or transactions
• Marketing communications (subject to your preferences and applicable laws)

4.4 Analytics and Improvement

• Analyzing usage patterns to improve our platform
• Conducting research and development
• Troubleshooting issues
• Securing the platform and preventing fraud

4.5 Legal and Compliance

• Complying with legal obligations
• Enforcing our Terms and Conditions
• Protecting our rights, privacy, safety, or property
• Responding to legal requests and preventing harm

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect and store information when you use our Services.

5.1 Types of Cookies We Use

• Necessary Cookies: Essential to provide you with services and features available through our website

• Functionality Cookies: Allow us to remember your preferences and customize your experience

• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website (we use Google Analytics)

• Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that are deleted when you close your browser

• Persistent Cookies: Remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them

5.2 Your Cookie Choices

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings preferences. However, if you limit the ability of websites to set cookies, you may worsen your overall user experience. Some features of our platform may not function properly if you disable cookies.

6. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

6.1 Public Information

Certain information is visible to other users of the platform:

• Contestant profiles, photos, and submissions are visible to all users
• Contest rankings and vote counts may be publicly displayed (depending on contest settings)
• Comments or reviews you post publicly on the platform

6.2 Service Providers

We share information with third-party vendors who help us operate our business:

• Payment processors (for handling transactions)
• Cloud hosting and storage providers
• Email service providers
• Analytics providers
• Customer support services

All service providers are bound by contractual obligations to keep personal information confidential and use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them.

6.3 Contest Organizers

We share contestant and voter information with contest organizers to facilitate contest management. This may include:

• Contestant registration details
• Voting statistics and analytics
• Voter verification information (in aggregate form)

6.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities.

6.5 Business Transfers

If PleaseVoteMe is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

7. Data Retention

We retain different types of information for different periods:

• Account information: We keep your account information until you delete your account or request that we delete it.
• Contest data: Information about contests (including vote tallies and rankings) is stored for historical and reference purposes. Contest results are maintained indefinitely unless the contest organizer requests deletion.
• Contestant submissions: Photos, videos, and other content submitted for contests are retained as long as the contest is active and for a reasonable period after conclusion for historical reference.
• Payment information: We retain transaction records for legal and financial compliance but do not store complete credit card details.
• Usage data: We typically retain usage data for a shorter period, except when used for security purposes or to improve our services.

We may retain your information for longer periods if required by law, or if necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, or enforce our agreements.

8. Your Privacy Rights

8.1 Access and Control of Your Information

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

• Access your personal data
• Correct inaccurate data
• Delete your data (where applicable)
• Object to certain processing
• Withdraw consent for future processing
• Export your data in a portable format

8.2 GDPR Rights (For European Users)

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right to be informed about our data collection practices
• Right of access to your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing
• Rights related to automated decision making and profiling

8.3 California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):

• Right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
• Right to delete personal information held by businesses
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information
• Right to non-discrimination when exercising privacy rights
• Right to correct inaccurate personal information
• Right to limit use and disclosure of sensitive personal information

To exercise your privacy rights, please contact us at support@pleasevoteme.com. We will respond to your request within the timeframe required by applicable law.

9. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption of sensitive information in transit and at rest
• Regular security assessments and penetration testing
• Access controls and authentication requirements
• Employee training on data protection
• Incident response planning

While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal data, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. International Data Transfers

PleaseVoteMe operates globally, which means your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in countries outside of your residence. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information when it is transferred internationally.

For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), we rely on mechanisms such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission to transfer data outside the EEA legally.

11. Children's Privacy

Our Services are not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will promptly delete it.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us at privacy@pleasevoteme.com, and we will take steps to remove such information.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.

For significant changes, we will provide additional notice, such as a prominent website notice or an email notification. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.