Sorry if it me,but I notice there few new messages out with Votes at start of the messages, and each person that post it is new to the board....
now I notice three messages like that today....
It's because it's very easy for a newcomer to select the "post new poll" link (top right of any subject index) that looks like a link, rather than the NEW TOPIC box (top left) which doesn't. This automatically puts a voting poll in the first message. I don't think it's anything more sinister than that
Good call Goaty, that's very likely.
I'll edit the template and try to substiture the poll link for an actual button, and move it to the right alongside the post topic button.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention guys.