using jquery validate plugin in asp.net controls not working <p>I am trying to use the jquery plugin <code>validate()</code> method to validate a div in my current sharepoint visual webpart. I am not sure why this is not working. it does nothing at all.</p> <p>Here is the code.</p> <pre><code> &lt;div id="main" runat="server"&gt; &lt;h3&gt;2. Select your study subject.&lt;span class="red"&gt;*&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;asp:RadioButtonList CssClass="required" ID="rdb_study_popul" runat="server" OnSelectedIndexChanged="rdb_study_popul_SelectedIndexChanged"&gt; &lt;asp:ListItem&gt;Individuals&lt;/asp:ListItem&gt; &lt;asp:ListItem&gt;Population&lt;/asp:ListItem&gt; &lt;/asp:RadioButtonList&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;asp:Button ID="btn_studysubject_section" runat="server" CssClass="WBSButtonhide" OnClick="btn_studysubject_section_Click" Text="Next"/&gt; </code></pre> <p>here is the jquery </p> <pre><code> $("input[type='submit']").click(function () { if ($(this).val() != 'Back') { var names = []; var info = " "; $('#&lt;%= main.ClientID %&gt;').validate({ rules: { &lt;%= rdb_study_popul.ClientID%&gt; : { required: true } }, messages: { &lt;%= rdb_study_popul.ClientID%&gt; : "This field cannot be empty, please enter between" } }); } }); </code></pre>