Has yahoo answers changed it's answer format from "choose best answer" to "vote for best answer"?

This is not a change, it's always been that way. You have the option, as the asker, of 'choosing' the best answer. When you don't do that, it goes to 'voting.'

Taking away 'name tags' allows for fair voting since you have no idea who the answerers are.

If the asker doesn't choose a best answer, the question goes into voting. This has been done for as long as I've been on the site. Yes the remove the name tags when it's in voting so people don't vote based on who gave the answer but on the answer content. Once voting is finished, the name tags are returned.

You can only CHOOSE a Best Answer within the official OPEN period (4 days). After that, the question is sent to voting by the general public (the rest of us users) and we can vote on the Best Answer. So can you, at that point, but that is ALL you can do. And they take away the names so that voting is anonymous.

it fairly is extra beneficial than no longer something. regrettably, the downfall is that maximum electorate do no longer examine with the aid of the solutions, they only choose the 1st or the longest. appropriate answer chosen as maximum thumbs-up, even with the undeniable fact that, could nonetheless have its flaws. What if no solutions have thumbs-up? Or extra beneficial than one have a tie interior the style of thumbs-up? Then how could it fairly is chosen? Having a vote, even with the undeniable fact that imperfect, holds to the community component of this internet site, which i think of is substantial to maintain.