# 🚀 Votex quick start guide (/votex/votex-quick-start-guide)









This guide gives validators a practical understanding of how The Vault [gauges](/gauges/gauges) work and how to use them effectively with Votex in under five minutes.

<img alt="Banner: A guide welcomes two participants to a cream voting marketplace with a blank orange ballot card, a small lock and a validator server model." src="__img0" />

## What you need to know in 5 minutes [#what-you-need-to-know-in-5-minutes]

Gauges allow validators to receive stake through a weekly voting mechanism. Validators acquire voting power, votes are cast, and stake is distributed for the following epoch. This process repeats weekly.

## What gauges are [#what-gauges-are]

Gauges are a vote based stake allocation system:

* Validators acquire voting power.
* Votes are cast for a specific epoch.
* Stake is distributed based on vote share.
* Votes expire after one week and must be renewed.

This creates a predictable, transparent way to attract stake through market pricing.

## Key numbers at a glance [#key-numbers-at-a-glance]

* Voting epochs last 7 days.
* A minimum commitment of 2 to 3 weeks is recommended.
* The stakebot runs every 3 hours.
* Initial impact is visible after one week when using Votex.
* Delta updates appear within 3 hours of a new epoch starting.
* Stake moves over the following 1 to 2 Solana epochs after the new gauge epoch starts.

## Follow the quick process [#follow-the-quick-process]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Buy votes [#buy-votes]

    1. Visit [https://votex.so/daos](https://votex.so/daos).
    2. Confirm voting is open. Voting is available six days per week and closes on the final day of the epoch.
    3. Purchase votes for your validator, as shown in [How to buy gauge votes](/votex/how-to-buying-gauge-votes). Any wallet can be used and it does not need to remain consistent week to week.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Wait for the next epoch [#wait-for-the-next-epoch]

    Check the Gauge cycle timeline on The Vault's [Gauges page](https://thevault.finance/gauges). Votes always apply to the next epoch after purchase, so wait for it to start. Gauge epochs last one week and don't line up with Solana epochs.

    Example: votes purchased during Epoch 20 apply to Epoch 21.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Check your delta [#check-your-delta]

    1. Visit [https://thevault.finance/validators](https://thevault.finance/validators).
    2. Locate your validator and review the delta column.

    Deltas typically appear within three hours of the new epoch starting.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Wait for stake distribution [#wait-for-stake-distribution]

    Continue monitoring your validator page for updates. Once the gauge epoch is set, the stakebot moves stake to the new targets over the following Solana epochs. Stake is processed through a priority queue. First time or large stake allocations may take slightly longer.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Repeat weekly [#repeat-weekly]

    Votes only last one week. To retain or grow stake, you must vote again for the next epoch. Most validators see the strongest results after two to three consecutive weeks.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Example timeline [#example-timeline]

* Day 0, Monday: votes are purchased during Epoch 20.
* Near the end of Epoch 20: Votex casts votes on your behalf.
* Day 7, Monday: Epoch 21 begins.
* Within 3 hours: your delta appears on the dashboard.
* From Day 7: the stakebot moves stake to the new targets over the following 1 to 2 Solana epochs.
* Day 14: votes must be renewed for Epoch 22 (Figure 10.18).

<img alt="Example timeline showing votes bought in Epoch 20 on Day 0 and cast by Votex near the end of that epoch, Epoch 21 beginning with the delta appearing within 3 hours on Day 7, stake moving over the following 1 to 2 Solana epochs, and vote renewal for Epoch 22 on Day 14." src="__img1" />

Figure 10.18: Example voting timeline

## Stake priority rules [#stake-priority-rules]

Stake is processed in the following order (Figure 10.19):

* First priority: [direct stake](/stake/direct-staking) combined with gauge stake.
* Second priority: [undirected stake](/stake/direct-vs-undirected-stake).

Within each priority tier, validators with larger deltas are processed first.

<img alt="A two-tier queue processes direct stake combined with gauge stake before undirected stake, with larger validator deltas processed first within each tier." src="__img2" />

Figure 10.19: Stake processing priority

## Budget planning and ROI [#budget-planning-and-roi]

### Estimating returns [#estimating-returns]

Expected earnings = stake amount × commission rate × APY ÷ 52.

Cost = USDC spent on votes.

If expected earnings exceed cost, the strategy is profitable.

### Understanding voting power [#understanding-voting-power]

Your voting power = your spend ÷ total spend for the epoch.

Example: $1,000 ÷ $1,200 total spend = 83% of voting power.

## Common mistakes to avoid [#common-mistakes-to-avoid]

* Only voting for one week and stopping before results compound
* Expecting instant stake distribution
* Forgetting to vote again when a new epoch begins
* Confusing Solana epochs with gauge voting epochs
* Assuming the same wallet must be used every week

## Quick links [#quick-links]

* Buy votes: [https://votex.so/daos](https://votex.so/daos)
* Check epoch timing: [https://thevault.finance/gauges](https://thevault.finance/gauges)
* View validator deltas: [https://thevault.finance/validators](https://thevault.finance/validators)
* Stakebot transparency data: [https://github.com/SolanaVault/stakebot-data](https://github.com/SolanaVault/stakebot-data)
* Analytics dashboard: [https://dune.com/kagren0/the-vault-validators](https://dune.com/kagren0/the-vault-validators)

## Need help [#need-help]

For deeper explanations, review the [Gauges](/gauges/gauges) documentation. If you still need assistance, reach out to support in [The Vault Discord](https://discord.gg/thevaultfinance) directly.

## Ready to start [#ready-to-start]

Visit [https://votex.so/daos](https://votex.so/daos), purchase your first votes and begin participating in gauges.