The nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 have been announced, and once again, New Orleans’ seminal funk band, the Meters, are nominated for induction, but they’ll need votes to get there. To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. The 2014 Nominees had to release their first recording no later than 1988. All eligible artists are then narrowed down by the nominating committee, made up of writers, historians and critics to come up with the list of nominees that goes to the larger voting body for the selection of this year’s possible inductees:

•       The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

The Meters need your vote!

•       Chic
•       Deep Purple
•       Peter Gabriel
•       Hall and Oates
•       KISS
•       LL Cool J
•       The Meters
•       Nirvana
•       N.W.A.
•       The Replacements
•       Linda Ronstadt
•       Cat Stevens
•       Link Wray
•       Yes
•       The Zombies

The 2014 inductees are chosen by a secret ballot of over 600 individual voters consisting of all past inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, musicians, historians, critics and members of the music industry.

The 29th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held in April 2014 in New York City. Venue and public ticket sale information will be announced at a later date. The Induction Ceremony will be presented on HBO in May.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame offers fans the opportunity to officially participate in the induction selection process. Beginning October 16 and continuing through December 10 at 5 p.m. EST, the public can visit www.rockhall.com/vote, www.rollingstone.com, and www.usatoday.com to cast votes for who they believe to be most deserving of induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The top five artists, as selected by the public, will constitute a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2014 inductees.

All inductees are ultimately represented in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, the nonprofit organization that tells the story of rock and roll’s global impact via special exhibits, educational programs and its library and archives.

So your vote for the Meters–if you’re a New Orleans music fan–is needed to give the Meters their due in the rock pantheon. Vote now! And tell your friends.