Beaufort County residents have spoken, and the winners of the Washington Daily News’ Readers’ Choice awards will be announced this week.

The Daily News launched the contest in May with a first round of nominations from the public: favorite designer, favorite restaurant, cleanest bathroom — categories ranged from best church choir to favorite elected official. Readers could make nominations and vote either via a special section in the newspaper or online. In June, nominations were narrowed down to the top five vote-getters, and voting continued. On Aug. 24, the final votes came in, naming the top three of each category: first place, runner up and honorable mention.

The response was great, according to Carol Crittendon, advertising director at the Washington Daily News.

“It was overwhelmingly positive,” Crittendon said.

Crittendon has spearheaded Readers’ Choice awards in the past at newspapers in Roanoke Rapids and in North Dakota, and said the voter turnout this time around was a surprise made an impression.

“You know, I found that our community is a lot more involved technologically,” Crittendon said. “We had over 100,000 votes.”

The voters’ response was good, but response from those nominated was even better, according to Crittendon.

“Overwhelmingly, people are really honored to be nominated, to have made it to the top five,” Crittendon said. “I guess they didn’t realize as a business or as an individual that they were that popular with the community.”

The top three vote-getters for each category will be named at a reception Thursday evening at the Washington Daily News. There won’t be a formal ceremony, but lists will be available showing how each nominee placed in each category, Crittendon said.

“Mostly it’s just going to the opportunity for people to meet and talk to one another,” Crittendon said. “It’s just an opportunity to chat and relax and have a nice evening.”

A full listing of Readers’ Choice winners will be published in a special section of the Washington Daily News on Sept. 24.