As a general rule, If you find a game with time running out, notify Admin, check out the board and VOTE, so that there is at least one vote and we don't loose by default.
However do not vote if the game is not yet begun; instead send messages to all the admins so that someone can abort the game.
One team out there sets up 10 minute games, and should an Admin accidently accept such a challenge the game is typically lost due to failure to make a move in time. You have to baby sit the game and play it every 10 minutes, so these games need to be aborted as soon as found, if possible.
These rules have been borrowed from wormrose and lightened up a little.
Our games should typically allow two days for us to make a move.
--- The first 24 hrs is for the suggesting and discussion of moves ---
As a general rule we ask everyone to hold their votes until the final 24 hours of our turn. This is to allow plenty of time for discussion/analysis.
There is nothing in the chess.com vote chess system to prevent a person from voting earlier than 24 hours. Since we cannot determine who voted early, we cannot enforce this rule.
There are, however, two rules we need you to follow:
a) Please do not post a comment indicating that you have already voted, prior to the 24 hour mark
b) We also ask that you not encourage others to vote early by posting the actual vote count prior to 24 hours remaining.
--- Voting is to be confined to those moves which are being discussed ---
if you find a game without any discussion with 24 hours or less on the clock bring the matter to attention by Admin and start the discussion by leaving a post with time remaining, and your suggestion for next move.
In the event that you must vote early because you will not be available to take part in the discussion, it is ok to vote but do not post a comment about your vote so as to encourage others to vote that way.
Why?
Many players of vote chess are drive by voters; their votes can mess up the voting for making the best move. When they see a comment for a certain move, usually the last comment made up to that point, they vote for that move without taking a good look at the position, and as a result the wrong move could cost us the game.