The Vocal Group Hall of Fame and Museum has changed the way votes are counted for future inductees and opened up the process so that more people can participate.

The move reduces the amount of weight given to the hall's induction committee and readers of Goldmine magazine, allows previously inducted artists to vote and gives the general public a say.

"Anyone should be entrusted to have an opinion on who they think is worthy of being inducted into the hall of fame," said Bob Crosby, the hall's president and chief executive officer.

In the past, the opinions of the committee members, who are industry professionals and musicologists, accounted for 65 percent of the vote, and those of Goldmine readers counted for 35 percent, he said.

Under a new formula, the committee opinions are weighted at 40 percent, Goldmine readers at 30 percent, previous inductees at 25 percent and Internet voters at 5 percent, Crosby said.

Part of the reason for the change was the increased participation of inductees in museum activities, he said. They have come to realize that the hall is run by a nonprofit foundation that is interested in preserving and promoting their music, he said.

"It's a clubhouse for them," Crosby said. "The artists feel they should have a vote."

Crosby said the Internet voting was set up to give the committee a sense of the popular opinion, but is not weighted heavily in case of ballot box stuffing.

"We weren't sure we could prevent tampering," he said, noting that fans who are "really into it" should find a copy of Goldmine and send in that ballot.

"That's where your vote will be most effective," Crosby said.

Only one vote will be counted from a person, he said, explaining that if someone votes online and through Goldmine, only the Goldmine vote will count.

Internet voters also can suggest groups to appear on future ballots.

The deadline for votes is March 15, and the 2003 class of inductees likely will be announced in mid-April, Crosby said.

This year's ballot includes 22 groups each from the '50s and '60s, 17 groups from the '70s and eight groups from the '80s.

The '50s groups are still heavily doo wop, represented by Billy Ward and the Dominoes, the Cadillacs, the Cleftones, the Five Satins, the Heartbeats and Lee Andrews and the Hearts, but include the early rock of Danny and the Juniors, the genre-jumping Jordanaires, and the pure pop of the Four Coins and the Four Lads.

Girl groups such as the Chiffons, Martha and the Vandellas, the Ronettes, the Marvellettes and the Shangri-Las rule the '60s, with the Isley Brothers and the Impressions adding a soulful touch, and the Association touching on psychedelia.

Johnny Maestro fans will be out in force nominating his '50s group, the Crests, and his '60s group, the Brooklyn Bridge.

The '70s groups range from the Osmonds and Tony Orlando and Dawn to the Commodores and the Pointer Sisters, while Alabama, En Vogue, the Jets and New Kids on the Block highlight the '80s.

The hall is open from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free, but donations are requested. Information: (724) 983-2025 and www.vghf.com