# How to Vote _Step-by-step guide to voting on gauges with your veBTC_ _Source: https://mezo.org/docs/users/mezo-earn/vote/how-to-vote_ Voting allows you to direct the flow of emissions and, in return, earn a proportional share of the trading fees and incentives from the gauges you allocate to. This guide walks you through the complete process. - Video: [How to Vote](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rthu_iub7E&t=89s) ## Prerequisites Before you begin, ensure you have: - A compatible wallet connected to Mezo (MetaMask, Rabby, or WalletConnect-supported wallets) - An active veBTC position (to vote on staking gauges) - OR an active veMEZO position (to vote on veBTC boost gauges) - Sufficient BTC for gas fees See [How to Lock BTC](/docs/users/mezo-earn/lock/vebtc/how-to-lock-btc) if you don't have a veBTC lock already. See [How to Lock MEZO](/docs/users/mezo-earn/lock/vemezo/how-to-lock-mezo) if you want to create a veMEZO position. --- ## Voting with veBTC veBTC holders vote on staking gauges to direct emissions and earn fees. ### Cast Your Vote To earn rewards, allocate your voting power to specific gauges. Your allocation persists across epochs (7 days each) until you change it. 1. Visit the **Vote** tab to view your active veBTC positions. Click **Allocate** next to the veBTC position you want to vote with. 2. For the gauges you want to support, enter the percentage of your voting power you want to allocate to each. For example, you might allocate 50% to the BTC/MUSD pool, 30% to the MUSD/mUSDC pool, and 20% to the mcbBTC/BTC pool. 3. Review your allocation, and when you're ready, click **Submit Votes** in the right sidebar. Sign the transaction, and once complete, your vote is registered for the current epoch. > **Remember:** > > Each lock can vote once per epoch — once your vote confirms, the allocation is locked in until the next turnover. Your allocation persists across epochs and keeps earning fees and incentives until you change or reset it. --- ## Voting with veMEZO veMEZO holders vote on veBTC boost gauges to provide boost to BTC positions in exchange for incentives, and on [MEZO Gauges](/docs/users/mezo-earn/vote/mezo-gauges) to direct MEZO emissions to MUSD pools off Mezo. The two are independent — see [How to Vote on MEZO Gauges](/docs/users/mezo-earn/vote/mezo-gauges/how-to-vote) for that flow. ### Vote on Boost Gauges 1. Navigate to the **Boost Gauges** section to see all available veBTC positions seeking boost. 2. Review each gauge to see: - Current incentives posted - Amount of veMEZO already directed to that gauge - Estimated yield based on your veMEZO allocation 3. Enter the percentage of your veMEZO voting power you want to direct to each boost gauge. 4. Click **Submit Votes** and sign the transaction. ### What You Earn When you direct veMEZO votes to a boost gauge: - You earn a share of any incentives posted on that gauge, proportional to your share of veMEZO votes - The veBTC holder receives boost, increasing their effective voting power Note: veMEZO voters do **not** receive trading fees, MUSD revenue, or bridging fees from the veBTC positions they boost. Those rewards go to the veBTC holder. veMEZO voters only earn the incentives explicitly posted on boost gauges. --- ## Maximizing Your Boost (For veBTC Holders) If you hold both veBTC and veMEZO, you can maximize your voting power: ### Option 1: Self-Boost Direct your veMEZO votes to your own veBTC position's boost gauge. 1. Go to your veBTC position's boost gauge 2. Allocate your veMEZO voting power to it 3. Click **Submit Votes** 4. **Poke** your veBTC position to activate the new boost ### Option 2: Attract External Boost Post incentives on your veBTC boost gauge to attract veMEZO votes from other users. 1. Navigate to your veBTC position's boost gauge 2. Click **Add Incentives** 3. Deposit tokens (any ERC-20) as incentives 4. veMEZO holders will see your incentives and may direct votes your way 5. **Poke** your position after receiving new veMEZO votes --- ## Important: Poke After Changes When your veMEZO situation changes, the boost doesn't automatically update. You need to **poke** your veBTC position to refresh its boosted weight. **Poke when:** - You receive new veMEZO votes on your boost gauge - You direct your own veMEZO to your position - You claim veMEZO rebase distributions - You extend your veMEZO lock **How to poke:** 1. Go to your veBTC position 2. Click **Poke** 3. Sign the transaction Your new boosted weight will apply immediately. --- ## Next Steps - [Managing Locks and Collecting Rewards](/docs/users/mezo-earn/lock/vebtc/managing-locks-and-collecting-rewards) — Claim your earnings and extend your lock - [Voting Overview](/docs/users/mezo-earn/vote) — Learn more about how voting works and what you earn - [Boost Mechanism](/docs/users/mezo-earn/lock/vemezo/boost-mechanism) — Understand how veMEZO boost is calculated - [Matching Market](/docs/users/mezo-earn/lock/vemezo/matching-market) — Learn how the boost marketplace works - [MEZO Gauges](/docs/users/mezo-earn/vote/mezo-gauges) — Vote with veMEZO to direct MEZO emissions to MUSD pools on Curve, Uniswap, and Aerodrome