There are three ways Canadians can vote for their favourite Maria: Landline Telephone, Text Message or Online.

Following each performance show, voting will be open from 7:00 p.m. ET to 3:00 a.m. ET, and is restricted to a maximum of 10 votes per voting channel, i.e. by landline telephone, by text message or online. Only those calling from within Canada will be able to vote.

Phone

During every live performance show, each Maria will be assigned her own toll-free phone number for fans to call in and vote. Toll-free calls can be made from a landline or payphone (but *not* from most mobile phones).

• Elicia 1-866-610-3562
• Janna 1-866-610-3564

Text Message

Fans can cast their vote via text message across all mobile operators in Canada. To vote, fans simply send the first name of their favourite Maria to 777 111. A premium of 50 cents per vote will be charged for each text message, regardless of personal rate plans.


Online

Online, fans can vote here to cast their vote with a simple click of a mouse.  Voting online is fast and may avoid potential busy signals.

How do I vote?

There are three ways you can vote for your favourite Maria on How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?  Each Maria will be assigned her own toll-free number during the performance shows for fans to call in and vote. You can also vote via text message across all mobile operators in Canada. Simply text the first name of your favourite Maria to 777 111 , and your vote will be cast. And finally, you can also vote online here.

To vote, simply watch How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?  each week on CBC Television and after the broadcast is over, dial the toll-free phone number of the Maria for whom you wish to vote via your landline telephone. Or, simply text the first name of your favourite Maria to 777 111 on your mobile phone. Each text vote is considered a premium message and costs 50 cents. Or you can vote online here.

Voting for How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? will be open from 7:00 pm ET to 3:00 am ET, and restricted to a maximum of ten votes per Voting Channel, including toll-free, mobile text messaging, and online voting.

And remember, each and every time you vote, you are automatically entered to win a fabulous trip for two to the opening of The Sound of Music in Toronto. Trip and contest details are available here.

Who can vote?

Anyone calling from within Canada can cast his or her vote for How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?  You can vote by calling the toll-free numbers via landline telephone or payphone (but *not* from most mobile phones). Callers from other countries will not be able to access the toll-free networks.

When can I vote?

Voting for How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? will be open from 7:00 pm ET to 3:00 am ET, and restricted to a maximum of ten votes per voting channel, including toll-free, mobile text messaging, and online voting. Outside of these times you will hear a busy signal and your call to the toll-free numbers will not count as a vote.

How much does it cost to vote?

Telephone calls to the How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? voting lines are toll-free from landlines including pay phones (but *not* from most mobile phones). You may use your mobile phone to vote by text message, though you will be charged for a premium message at 50 cents per vote cast, regardless of your rate plan or the included text messages in your rate plan. Or you can vote online for free here.

Can I vote by using my mobile phone?

No. Most mobile phone numbers will not display properly in the voting system and will thereby be discarded with no vote cast. However, you may vote via text message across all mobile operators in Canada. Each text vote is considered a premium message and costs 50 cents. Or you can vote online for free here.

I couldn't get through to the toll-free lines, or all I get is a busy signal when I call. Why?

Although the toll-free telephone network is designed to handle huge volumes of calls simultaneously, there may be times (particularly just after the broadcast) when the system will not be able to handle every single call to How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?  due to the sheer volume.

Waiting for non-peak times before calling increases your chances of successfully voting for your favourite Maria via the toll-free numbers. If you still have problems, contact your local phone company, but note that in most, if not all cases, it may be due to the high volume of calls being made on the network.

Remember, voting for How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? will be open from 7:00 pm ET to 3:00 am ET, and restricted to a maximum of ten votes per voting channel, including toll-free, mobile text messaging, and online voting.

If you are calling during the correct voting window but can't get through to cast your vote because of a busy signal, try the following: be patient and try again a few minutes later; or, you can text message your vote on your mobile phone (each text vote is considered a premium message and costs 50 cents).  You can also vote online here.

If you are sure you are calling within the voting window but still can't get through, it may be that your local phone company has been flooded with calls. The highest call volumes for toll-free telephone voting generally occur within the first 30 minutes after the broadcast ends. People calling to vote during the first few minutes are most likely to get a busy signal or no dial tone altogether.

Please note that calls can only be processed if a dial tone is heard. Do not begin your call until after you hear a dial tone. If you do not hear a dial tone, do not hang up and try again immediately. Rather, wait until you hear a dial tone; this will maintain your priority in the queue. Waiting to hear a dial tone keeps your line ready for the next dial tone that becomes available.

When I called the toll-free lines I heard the wrong Maria number. Why?

All lines for How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?  are tested before going on-air to make sure the lines work and are playing out the correct audio. If you called and heard the wrong Maria’s details it is possible you accidentally misdialed. Please check the number and dial again.

What will I hear if I call the toll-free numbers?

Voting for How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? will be open from 7:00 pm ET to 3:00 am ET, during the vote window, you will hear a pre-recorded message thanking you for voting for your favourite Maria. Each Maria will have her own number broadcast on-air and the phone message will confirm the Maria number for which you have voted. After the voting window, no more votes will be accepted and the lines will play out a busy signal.

When I called, I was told to call a "900" number - isn't How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? voting toll-free?

If you call to vote for your favourite Maria and hear a message to call a "900" number, you have dialed the wrong number. All numbers for How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?  are toll-free. Don't call the "900" number, as "900" numbers aren't connected to How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?  voting. Try the toll-free numbers again and dial carefully.

Can I vote via the toll-free numbers using a payphone?

Yes. Votes from payphones made during the valid voting window will be accepted.

WHEN I CALL THE 1-800 LINE, I'M ASKED TO TEXT OR VOTE ONLINE. WHY CAN'T I VOTE VIA THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER?

We are only able to accept calls from which we can identify the originating phone number. In some cases, mobile phone lines do not pass this information. In other scenarios, you may have your home phone number set as "private" or "confidential", or are using *70 to block the calling line ID. In these situations, you will not be able to vote via the toll-free channel. You may, however, vote with text messaging by texting the name of your favourite Maria to 777 111, or you may vote online here.

Can I vote on the Internet?

Yes, you can also vote online here.

WHEN I TRY TO VOTE ONLINE I GET A MESSAGE THAT SAYS I'VE ALREADY VOTED 10 TIMES. BUT I HAVEN'T VOTED. WHY AM I GETTING THAT MESSAGE?

The number of votes cast online is limited to 10 votes per IP address. Most computers have individual IP addresses, but in some cases (e.g. some workplaces, dormitories, networked residences) multiple computers share the same IP address. Once 10 votes have been cast via your computer's IP address, the system will not allow any further votes from that same IP address. That said, you may also vote via text messaging across all mobile operators in Canada. Simply text the name of your favourite Maria to 777 111 and your vote is cast (each text vote is considered a premium message and costs 50 cents). Toll-free calls can be made from a landline phone or payphone (but *not* from most mobile phones).

How do I vote using text messaging?

Text messaging is a way of communicating short messages using mobile phones. Most (but not all) handsets have this feature. For How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?  simply text the first name of your favourite Maria to 777 111 and your vote will be cast. Each text vote is considered a premium message and costs 50 cents.

When can I vote using text messaging?

Voting for How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? will be open from 7:00 pm ET to 3:00 am ET, and restricted to a maximum of 10 votes per voting channel, including toll-free, mobile text messaging, and online voting

How many times can I vote?

You can vote a maximum of 10 times during voting periods across all voting platforms, including toll-free, mobile text messaging, and online.

How do I find out the results?

Results will be broadcast on CBC Television the evening following the last voting show - so make sure you don't miss the results show if you want to see how your vote affected the results. Or you can visit www.cbc.ca/maria to view results online.

Vote Integrity:

How do I know that the CBC hasn’t tampered with the results you report?

We have partnered with a well-respected 3rd party who will handle the collection and reporting of all voting results for each show. We will only be given the results of voting for the purposes of reporting them on our results show.

Voting is open from 7pm-3am? Doesn’t this mean that people in the Eastern Time Zone have an unfair advantage, and more time to vote than the rest of the country?

Voting opens at the end of the show in your time zone. Voting hours are set to ensure that the whole country has a chance to pick their favourite Maria. Limits are in place on the number of votes each person can cast to ensure that no one has an unfair advantage.

Why does my vote matter if one Maria gets “saved” at the end of the results show?

Your vote DOES matter. Throughout the season your votes will determine who remains on the show and who is in the bottom two.

Although Simon or Andrew will give one Maria a second chance at the end of each results show, on finale night, the contestant who receives the most votes from the Canadian public will become the next Maria.

Vote Technical:

Why does it cost me 50 cents to vote with my cell phone when every other voting channel is free?

We are offering a number of ways to cast your vote. In order to offset some of the costs associated with providing these choices to Canadians votes cast via text message will be subject to a .50-cent fee per text message.

I tried voting online, but, it keeps telling me that I’ve exceeded the maximum amount of votes for this show. I haven’t voted once yet; are you trying to force me to vote via text message just to make money?

Online voting is limited to 10 votes per IP address. If you are on a network that shares an IP address with other computers (like a wireless network in your home, dorm or internet café) this message is telling you that 10 votes have already been cast by the other people on your network.

You can always call our toll-free number from a landline to vote for your favourite Maria.

Why can’t I call the toll free number to cast my vote with my cell phone?

The technology used by most mobile phone carriers isn’t able to transmit your phone’s number through to a toll free number; since your phone number can’t be recognized by the system, your vote can’t be placed.

Call us back from a landline phone to place your vote.

Why is the CBC putting up so many barriers (making it so hard) for me to cast my vote the way I want?

Certain restrictions are in place to make sure that the voting process is both fair and secure; nevertheless, we are offering Canadians a number of different ways to cast their vote.

You can vote online here., by calling our toll-free number from a landline phone, or by texting the name of your favourite maria to 777111.