# 💵 How to buy gauge votes (/votex/how-to-buying-gauge-votes)























[Votex](/votex/votex-quick-start-guide) lets validators buy veV voting power with USDC to direct more of The Vault's [gauge](/gauges/gauges) stake to themselves, without buying or [locking $V](/vault-points/locking-v).

<video preload="metadata" src="/videos/zXdFBORcqZNWL211OpzD.mp4" />

## Buy votes for your validator [#buy-votes-for-your-validator]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Open Votex [#open-votex]

    Go to [votex.so](https://votex.so/) (Figure 10.1).

        <img alt="Votex home page" src="__img0" />

    Figure 10.1: Votex home page
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Launch the app [#launch-the-app]

    Tap Launch App (Figure 10.2).

        <img alt="Launch App button" src="__img1" />

    Figure 10.2: Launch App button
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Accept the terms [#accept-the-terms]

    The first time you visit, tick both boxes to accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, then tap I AGREE (Figure 10.3).

        <img alt="Votex Terms and Privacy dialog" src="__img2" />

    Figure 10.3: Votex Terms and Privacy dialog
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Open The Vault market [#open-the-vault-market]

    On The Vault card, tap Buy Votes (Figure 10.4).

        <img alt="Buy Votes on The Vault card" src="__img3" />

    Figure 10.4: Buy Votes on The Vault card
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Review the market [#review-the-market]

    Review the market: total value delegated, the current APR for veV, the $V and veV delegated and the USDC committed this epoch (Figure 10.5).

        <img alt="Vault vote market statistics" src="__img4" />

    Figure 10.5: Vault vote market statistics
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Find your validator [#find-your-validator]

    Search for your validator (Figure 10.6).

        <img alt="Validator search on Votex" src="__img5" />

    Figure 10.6: Validator search on Votex
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Select your validator [#select-your-validator]

    Tap Buy Votes next to your validator (Figure 10.7).

        <img alt="Buy Votes next to the validator" src="__img6" />

    Figure 10.7: Buy Votes next to the validator
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Enter the USDC amount [#enter-the-usdc-amount]

    Enter the USDC amount. The estimated veV you receive and the estimated impact update as you type (Figure 10.8).

        <img alt="USDC amount with estimated veV" src="__img7" />

    Figure 10.8: USDC amount with estimated veV
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Approve the purchase [#approve-the-purchase]

    Tap Connect Wallet, choose your wallet and approve the purchase (Figure 10.9).

        <img alt="Votex wallet connection" src="__img8" />

    Figure 10.9: Votex wallet connection
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Check when your votes count [#check-when-your-votes-count]

    Open the What happens after you buy? section for the timing of your purchase. Votes you buy take effect for the next gauge epoch, and each epoch lasts about 7 days. Once that epoch starts, the stakebot moves stake to your validator over the following Solana epochs, so for best results budget for about three weeks (Figure 10.10).

        <img alt="What happens after you buy? section" src="__img9" />

    Figure 10.10: What happens after you buy? section
  </Step>
</Steps>