Thread:Acebatonfan/@comment-4812386-20151205030747/@comment-4812386-20151220093927

Well, to clarify, the list of names I gave is just a few names taken from Special:ActiveUsers. Nominations are only about appearing in a poll: anyone can ask to be added to the poll, it is not something that requires being "qualified". The user of the year is chosen by the users voting on the poll, and the poll could just as well list all users registered on the wiki if that was possible. But instead, we list only people who have edited at least a few times in the past year. I have not reviewed anyone's contributions before making that list.

The JoTS wrote: I appreciate the consideration, although, I am rather curious how that special page (which seems to be hidden from us mundane editors) determines who's "active."

The special page is Special:ActiveUsers, anyone is able to look at it.