All these people having different ideas about it....
Its the vote for how you feel this contest works and how you want to vote for it contest. Just do what you want. And really don't bother discussing it here to much anymore. Because honestly, we got 2 camps going on and we are just going to be bitching at eachother over nothing.
Since we are already a small group of players from the total player base and we are split in 2 camps, there is really no use arguing over how to vote and how not to vote. People should just vote on the character they feel their vote deserves, be it in order to upgrade a character that deserves it, or be it the girl who you claim to be your waifu.
Also, I'm claiming Toad Lily as my Waifu. Hence, my votes will go to her, because I would love to have a second H-scene and some more art from her.
One question though, if let's say Mint won the popularity contest. And I have one Mint in my party, does she gets turn into 6* after the event, meaning I gain a 6* Mint automatically?
Actually both of them won't make for first place so 6* is out of question, but is not that hard to get them as 5* if any of them manage to get into the 3rd place atleast, and is better to have a Mint or Cepha as 5* than again the same characters repeated with the same number of stars like Baccara case looks like will be, still anyone is free to vote for whoever they want.
I think I was pretty clear on that though:
Keep in mind, these aren't official rules or anything. I personally made these up to benefit everyone so that we'd get the best possible results and so people wouldn't be confused. In other words, you can ignore them and do whatever you want. :P