Vote on Proposals
Participate in Namada's on-chain governance by voting on proposals that shape the protocol's future.
Time & Difficulty
⏱️ 5 minutes | 🎯 Difficulty: Beginner
Why Voting Matters
Your vote affects:
- 🔧 Protocol upgrades
- 💰 Treasury spending
- 📜 Parameter changes
- 🌐 Network direction
Who Can Vote?
- ✅ NAM stakers (delegators)
- ✅ Validators
- ✅ Anyone with delegated stake
Voting power = Amount of NAM staked
Find Active Proposals
Using Block Explorer
- Go to a Namada block explorer
- Navigate to Governance section
- View Active Proposals
Using CLI
# List all proposals
namadac query-proposal
# View specific proposal
namadac query-proposal --proposal-id 1
Understanding Proposals
Each proposal includes:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| ID | Unique proposal number |
| Title | Brief description |
| Author | Who submitted it |
| Type | Default/PGF/ETH Bridge |
| Description | Full details |
| Voting Period | Start/end times |
| Status | Active/Passed/Rejected |
Proposal Types
- Default - Protocol changes, parameter updates
- PGF Funding - Public goods funding requests
- PGF Steward - Steward elections
Vote Using Extension
Step 1: Find the Proposal
- Open Extension
- Go to Governance
- Select an active proposal
- Read the proposal details
Step 2: Cast Your Vote
Options:
- Yay - Support the proposal
- Nay - Oppose the proposal
- Abstain - Neutral (still counts toward quorum)
Step 3: Confirm
- Select your vote
- Review transaction details
- Click Vote
- Sign the transaction
Vote Using CLI
View Proposal Details
namadac query-proposal --proposal-id 1
Cast Your Vote
# Vote yay
namadac vote-proposal \
--proposal-id 1 \
--vote yay \
--signer my-wallet
# Vote nay
namadac vote-proposal \
--proposal-id 1 \
--vote nay \
--signer my-wallet
# Vote abstain
namadac vote-proposal \
--proposal-id 1 \
--vote abstain \
--signer my-wallet
Validator Votes vs Your Vote
Default Behavior
If you don't vote, your validator's vote is used:
You staked with ValidatorA
ValidatorA votes Yay
Your stake counts as Yay
Override Your Validator
Your vote always overrides:
ValidatorA votes Yay
You vote Nay
Your stake counts as Nay
Important: Always vote if you disagree with your validator!
Voting Period
Proposals have a voting window:
Proposal Created → Voting Opens → Voting Closes → Execution
Day 0 Day 1 Day 7 Day 8+
| Phase | Description |
|---|---|
| Grace period | Proposal can be viewed |
| Voting period | Votes accepted |
| Tally | Results calculated |
| Execution | If passed, changes applied |
Quorum & Threshold
For a proposal to pass:
Quorum
Minimum participation required:
- Usually 40% of staked NAM
- If quorum not met, proposal fails
Threshold
Percentage of Yes votes needed:
- Usually 66.67% (2/3)
- Of votes cast, not total stake
Example
Total Staked: 100,000 NAM
Quorum: 40,000 NAM
Votes:
- Yay: 35,000 NAM
- Nay: 10,000 NAM
- Abstain: 5,000 NAM
- Total: 50,000 NAM (✅ quorum met)
Result:
- Yay %: 35,000 / 45,000 = 77.8% (abstain doesn't count)
- Threshold: 66.67%
- ✅ PASSED
Best Practices
Before Voting
- Read the proposal - Understand what you're voting on
- Check discussions - Forum, Discord, Twitter
- Evaluate impact - How does it affect you and the network?
- Consider validator's position - But form your own opinion
Vote Considerations
| Factor | Questions to Ask |
|---|---|
| Technical merit | Is this technically sound? |
| Security | Any security implications? |
| Economic impact | How does this affect token economics? |
| Community sentiment | What does the community think? |
| Alignment | Does this align with network goals? |
Checking Results
View Vote Tally
namadac query-proposal --proposal-id 1
In Explorer
- Go to the proposal
- View current vote counts
- See if quorum is met
FAQ
Can I change my vote?
Yes! You can vote again until the voting period ends. Only your last vote counts.
Does abstaining help?
Yes - it counts toward quorum but not toward passing/rejecting.
What if I miss a vote?
Your validator's vote is used. If they don't vote either, your stake doesn't count.
Is voting anonymous?
No - votes are on-chain and visible. However, you can vote from a non-public address.
What happens after a proposal passes?
Depends on the type:
- Parameter changes: Applied automatically
- Upgrades: Implemented after delay
- PGF: Funds distributed
Governance Resources
- Forum: forum.namada.net - Proposal discussions
- Discord: #governance channel
- Documentation: Official governance docs
Next Steps
- Create a Proposal - Submit your own
- Apply for PGF - Get funding
- Governance Basics - Deep dive