Voting Process

Introduction

Voting is how you shape Mento's future. Every proposal that affects the protocol, from parameter adjustments to treasury allocations, requires community approval through on-chain voting. This guide walks you through casting votes, understanding your influence, and tracking proposal outcomes.

Finding Active Proposals

Navigate to governance.mento.org to view all proposals.

Proposal List

The proposals section shows each proposal with:

• Status Badge: Active, Defeated, Executed, etc.

• Title: Clear description of the proposal

• Vote Summary: For/Against/Abstain counts

• Participation: Number of voters and addresses

Proposals are listed chronologically with the most recent first.

How to Vote

Step 1: Select a Proposal

Click any proposal from the list to view its details. Active proposals display "Active" while completed ones show their final status.

Step 2: Review Proposal Information

Each proposal page includes:

Header Information

• Proposer address

• Proposed date and voting deadline

• Current status (Active, Defeated, etc.)

Voting Metrics

• Time remaining

• Quorum status and requirement

• Your voting power for this proposal

• Total votes cast

Proposal Content

• Description and rationale

• Technical specifications

• Expected impacts

• Forum discussion link

Step 3: Cast Your Vote

For active proposals, three voting options appear:

• Vote YES - Support the proposal

• Abstain - Neutral

• Vote NO - Oppose the proposal

Click your choice to initiate the voting transaction.

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Step 4: Confirm Transaction

1. Review your vote choice in your wallet

2. Confirm the transaction

3. Wait for on-chain confirmation

4. The interface updates to show "Your vote: [CHOICE]"

Your vote is permanent and cannot be changed.

Understanding Voting Power

How Your Weight is Calculated

Snapshot Mechanism

• Each proposal captures veMENTO balances at proposal creation block

• Your voting power = your veMENTO balance at that specific block

• Later changes to veMENTO balances don't affect voting power for existing proposals

Display Format

• Individual voting power shown as "Your Voting Power: X veMENTO"

• Total participation shown as "Total Votes: Y veMENTO"

• Your contribution visible in the Participants section

Quorum Requirements

Proposals must meet minimum participation thresholds:

Quorum Display

• "Quorum not reached" appears if threshold unmet

• "Quorum reached" shows once minimum veMENTO participates

• Exact requirement shown (e.g., "Min. 4.6M veMENTO")

• Quorum is dynamically calculated as a percentage of total veMENTO supply

Outcome Determination

• Must reach quorum AND have majority support

• Failed quorum = automatic defeat regardless of vote ratio

• Successful proposals must then be queued in order to enter the timelock period

Tracking Results

Live Voting Progress

During active voting, the interface displays:

Vote Distribution

• Percentage breakdown (Yes/No/Abstain)

• Visual progress bar showing vote weight

• Real-time updates as votes are cast

Participation Metrics

• Number of unique voters

• Total veMENTO voted vs. available

• Individual voter addresses and weights

Understanding Status Changes

Active → Voting period open Cancelled → Vetoed proposals Success → Approved (Majority yes & quorum reached) Queued → In timelock, awaiting execution Executed → Changes implemented on-chain Defeated → Failed (low support or no quorum)

Post-Voting Timeline

1. Voting Ends - No new votes accepted

2. Result Calculation - Final tally determines outcome

3. Timelock Period (2 days) - Successful proposals wait

4. Watchdog Review - Safety check window

5. Execution - Changes go live on-chain

Best Practices

Effective Participation

Before Voting

• Read the complete proposal

• Check forum discussions

• Understand technical implications

• Consider long-term impacts

When Voting

• Vote early to avoid missing deadlines

• Ensure sufficient CELO for gas

• Verify transaction confirmation

After Voting

• Monitor proposal progress

• Participate in implementation discussions

• Share feedback for future proposals

Building Governance Reputation

• Vote consistently on proposals

• Provide rationale in forums

• Support well-crafted proposals

• Help improve weak proposals

• Maintain long-term perspective

Common Questions

Can I change my vote?

No, all votes are final once submitted.

What if I miss the voting period?

You cannot vote after the deadline. Set reminders for important proposals.

Why don't I see my veMENTO balance?

Your voting power is captured at proposal creation. Check if you locked MENTO after the proposal was submitted.

How do I know if my vote counted?

Look for "Your vote: [CHOICE]" on the proposal page and your address in the Participants list.