jQuery validate select box

Answer 1

You can use Jquery Validator custom rule.

A similar example is discussed here. The code below is from the example:

// add the rule here
 $.validator.addMethod("valueNotEquals", function(value, element, arg){
  return arg != value;
 }, "Value must not equal arg.");

 // configure your validation
 $("form").validate({
  rules: {
   SelectName: { valueNotEquals: "-1" }
  },
  messages: {
   SelectName: { valueNotEquals: "Please select an item!" }
  }  
 });