function createRequestObject() {

    var req;
    
    if(window.XMLHttpRequest) {
        req = new XMLHttpRequest();
    } elseif(window.ActiveXObject) {
        req = new activeXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
    } else {
        alert ('Error while creating XMLHttpRequest object');
    }

}

var http = createRequestObject();

function sendRequestVotes(game) {

    http.open('get', 'getvotes.php?game='+game);
    http.onreadystatechange = handleResponseVotes;
    http.send(null);

}

function handleRequestVotes() {

   if(http.readyState == 4 && http.status == 200){

      if(http.responseText) {
         alert(http.responseText);
      }

   } 

}