Is it normal to NOT see the thumbs up, thumbs down graphics when testing the site? I would have thought i'd be able to see the thumbs up and down even if I can't click the buttons, because it is my test comments.
Yes, user couldn't vote on your own comments. To test this feature you need leave comment as a guest and then login on site and you will be able to vote as registered user...
In other words - user couldn't vote on his own comments, user couldn't vote twice, guest couldn't vote if comment left with his email or someone alredy voted with same IP...