I doubt that the e-mail idea will work any better. I can just as easy sit at my computer and go through my chain e-mails and type in adresses for votes. I think that the only way to have an unbiased contest is to have 2-3 employees at R/G to develop some kind of rating scale and decide that way. That way this doesn't turn into a popularity contest(who asks the most people to vote)
People have worked hard on their vids and should not have to worry about losing because they don't "know" enough people to cast votes for them. I know that the rules have already been made(or maybe this is be voted on by the top 10), or this should be a consideration for next time. Also one other note, realistically who wants to sit through 10 vids(some lasting as long as 4-5 minutes before voting? I think that would turn the unbiased voters off. But the way it is set up now I do not think that the best video is going to win.
Just my opinion.