Here's my whole take on the AI thing, and polls, and such... Of course, it's just my opinion...
I think Clay will never fully ever be able to lose the AI tag. IMO, the show was MADE during his season -- ratings through the roof, the tour consistently sold out. I also believe that Clay realizes that if not for the show, he probably wouldn't have the career his has now...which led to so much more in his life as well, such as the National Inclusion Project. Therefore, I've given up wishing for the day when his name and AI aren't in the same sentence consistently, because I just don't feel it will happen.
However...
The competition aspect of the whole thing, for me, ended the week after the TITN/BOTW sales came in. I have to admit I got caught up in the "beat Ruben" thing at that point. Past that, though -- well, sure, music is a competitive business. But there's room for liking more than one person in music at the same time, and sometimes these polls feel to me like "MY favorite is better than YOUR favorite."
I'm not begrudging those of you who are voting. Many seem to be happy at the idea of the fandom "pulling together" once again to vote for this. That's fine. I never was much of a voting fool though, so...eh.