My bad-- I spoke with Bill Henderson who confirmed what Scott Garson said in my first (mistaken) posting:
All entries sent up until December 1 are considered for the anthology of "the following calendar year."
Therefore, anyone who got a nomination in 2011 (before the December 1 deadline) is currently eligible to win and be part of the Winter 2012/2013 Pushcart Anthology.
Sorry to cause confusion! And very glad Scott jumped in and glad it's now clear to me. And to you. Who I may have confused. Apologies. But look on the bright side. All you "losers" could now turn out to be "winners."
And that includes me. I got a nomination too last December! Yipeeeeee!!!!!!!!
This is encouraging indeed!