diff --git a/bigchaindb/consensus.py b/bigchaindb/consensus.py
index 0e7dc4bd..a0672577 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/consensus.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/consensus.py
@@ -1,11 +1,4 @@
-import logging
-
-from bigchaindb.utils import verify_vote_signature
-from bigchaindb.common.schema import (SchemaValidationError,
-                                      validate_vote_schema)
-
-
-logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+from bigchaindb.voting import Voting
 
 
 class BaseConsensusRules():
@@ -16,34 +9,15 @@ class BaseConsensusRules():
     All methods listed below must be implemented.
 
     """
+    voting = Voting
 
     @staticmethod
     def validate_transaction(bigchain, transaction):
         """See :meth:`bigchaindb.models.Transaction.validate`
-        for documentation.
-
-        """
+        for documentation."""
         return transaction.validate(bigchain)
 
     @staticmethod
     def validate_block(bigchain, block):
         """See :meth:`bigchaindb.models.Block.validate` for documentation."""
         return block.validate(bigchain)
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def verify_vote(voters, signed_vote):
-        """Verify the signature of a vote.
-
-        Refer to the documentation of
-        :func:`bigchaindb.utils.verify_signature`.
-        """
-        if verify_vote_signature(voters, signed_vote):
-            try:
-                validate_vote_schema(signed_vote)
-                return True
-            except SchemaValidationError as exc:
-                logger.warning(exc)
-        else:
-            logger.warning('Vote failed signature verification: '
-                           '%s with voters: %s', signed_vote, voters)
-        return False
diff --git a/bigchaindb/core.py b/bigchaindb/core.py
index b94e68db..a9143f33 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/core.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/core.py
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 import random
-import math
-import collections
 from time import time
 
-from itertools import compress
 from bigchaindb import exceptions as core_exceptions
 from bigchaindb.common import crypto, exceptions
 from bigchaindb.common.utils import gen_timestamp, serialize
@@ -72,6 +69,9 @@ class Bigchain(object):
         if not self.me or not self.me_private:
             raise exceptions.KeypairNotFoundException()
 
+    federation = property(lambda self: set(self.nodes_except_me + [self.me]))
+    """ Set of federation member public keys """
+
     def write_transaction(self, signed_transaction):
         """Write the transaction to bigchain.
 
@@ -110,19 +110,10 @@ class Bigchain(object):
             dict: database response or None if no reassignment is possible
         """
 
-        if self.nodes_except_me:
-            try:
-                federation_nodes = self.nodes_except_me + [self.me]
-                index_current_assignee = federation_nodes.index(transaction['assignee'])
-                new_assignee = random.choice(federation_nodes[:index_current_assignee] +
-                                             federation_nodes[index_current_assignee + 1:])
-            except ValueError:
-                # current assignee not in federation
-                new_assignee = random.choice(self.nodes_except_me)
-
-        else:
-            # There is no other node to assign to
-            new_assignee = self.me
+        other_nodes = tuple(
+            self.federation.difference([transaction['assignee']])
+        )
+        new_assignee = random.choice(other_nodes) if other_nodes else self.me
 
         return backend.query.update_transaction(
                 self.connection, transaction['id'],
@@ -194,8 +185,7 @@ class Bigchain(object):
 
         if include_status:
             if block:
-                status = self.block_election_status(block_id,
-                                                    block['block']['voters'])
+                status = self.block_election_status(block)
             return block, status
         else:
             return block
@@ -296,12 +286,8 @@ class Bigchain(object):
         blocks = backend.query.get_blocks_status_from_transaction(self.connection, txid)
         if blocks:
             # Determine the election status of each block
-            validity = {
-                block['id']: self.block_election_status(
-                    block['id'],
-                    block['block']['voters']
-                ) for block in blocks
-            }
+            validity = {block['id']: self.block_election_status(block)
+                        for block in blocks}
 
             # NOTE: If there are multiple valid blocks with this transaction,
             # something has gone wrong
@@ -464,7 +450,7 @@ class Bigchain(object):
             raise exceptions.OperationError('Empty block creation is not '
                                             'allowed')
 
-        voters = self.nodes_except_me + [self.me]
+        voters = list(self.federation)
         block = Block(validated_transactions, self.me, gen_timestamp(), voters)
         block = block.sign(self.me_private)
 
@@ -483,36 +469,20 @@ class Bigchain(object):
         """
         return self.consensus.validate_block(self, block)
 
-    def has_previous_vote(self, block_id, voters):
+    def has_previous_vote(self, block_id):
         """Check for previous votes from this node
 
         Args:
             block_id (str): the id of the block to check
-            voters (list(str)): the voters of the block to check
 
         Returns:
             bool: :const:`True` if this block already has a
             valid vote from this node, :const:`False` otherwise.
 
-        Raises:
-            ImproperVoteError: If there is already a vote,
-                but the vote is invalid.
-
         """
         votes = list(backend.query.get_votes_by_block_id_and_voter(self.connection, block_id, self.me))
-
-        if len(votes) > 1:
-            raise exceptions.MultipleVotesError('Block {block_id} has {n_votes} votes from public key {me}'
-                                                .format(block_id=block_id, n_votes=str(len(votes)), me=self.me))
-        has_previous_vote = False
-        if votes:
-            if utils.verify_vote_signature(voters, votes[0]):
-                has_previous_vote = True
-            else:
-                raise exceptions.ImproperVoteError('Block {block_id} already has an incorrectly signed vote '
-                                                   'from public key {me}'.format(block_id=block_id, me=self.me))
-
-        return has_previous_vote
+        el, _ = self.consensus.voting.partition_eligible_votes(votes, [self.me])
+        return bool(el)
 
     def write_block(self, block):
         """Write a block to bigchain.
@@ -612,69 +582,15 @@ class Bigchain(object):
         # XXX: should this return instaces of Block?
         return backend.query.get_unvoted_blocks(self.connection, self.me)
 
-    def block_election_status(self, block_id, voters):
-        """Tally the votes on a block, and return the status: valid, invalid, or undecided."""
+    def block_election(self, block):
+        if type(block) != dict:
+            block = block.to_dict()
+        votes = list(backend.query.get_votes_by_block_id(self.connection,
+                                                         block['id']))
+        return self.consensus.voting.block_election(block, votes,
+                                                    self.federation)
 
-        votes = list(backend.query.get_votes_by_block_id(self.connection, block_id))
-        n_voters = len(voters)
-
-        voter_counts = collections.Counter([vote['node_pubkey'] for vote in votes])
-        for node in voter_counts:
-            if voter_counts[node] > 1:
-                raise exceptions.MultipleVotesError(
-                    'Block {block_id} has multiple votes ({n_votes}) from voting node {node_id}'
-                    .format(block_id=block_id, n_votes=str(voter_counts[node]), node_id=node))
-
-        if len(votes) > n_voters:
-            raise exceptions.MultipleVotesError('Block {block_id} has {n_votes} votes cast, but only {n_voters} voters'
-                                                .format(block_id=block_id, n_votes=str(len(votes)),
-                                                        n_voters=str(n_voters)))
-
-        # vote_cast is the list of votes e.g. [True, True, False]
-        vote_cast = [vote['vote']['is_block_valid'] for vote in votes]
-        # prev_block are the ids of the nominal prev blocks e.g.
-        # ['block1_id', 'block1_id', 'block2_id']
-        prev_block = [vote['vote']['previous_block'] for vote in votes]
-        # vote_validity checks whether a vote is valid
-        # or invalid, e.g. [False, True, True]
-        vote_validity = [self.consensus.verify_vote(voters, vote) for vote in votes]
-
-        # element-wise product of stated vote and validity of vote
-        # vote_cast = [True, True, False] and
-        # vote_validity = [False, True, True] gives
-        # [True, False]
-        # Only the correctly signed votes are tallied.
-        vote_list = list(compress(vote_cast, vote_validity))
-
-        # Total the votes. Here, valid and invalid refer
-        # to the vote cast, not whether the vote itself
-        # is valid or invalid.
-        n_valid_votes = sum(vote_list)
-        n_invalid_votes = len(vote_cast) - n_valid_votes
-
-        # The use of ceiling and floor is to account for the case of an
-        # even number of voters where half the voters have voted 'invalid'
-        # and half 'valid'. In this case, the block should be marked invalid
-        # to avoid a tie. In the case of an odd number of voters this is not
-        # relevant, since one side must be a majority.
-        if n_invalid_votes >= math.ceil(n_voters / 2):
-            return Bigchain.BLOCK_INVALID
-        elif n_valid_votes > math.floor(n_voters / 2):
-            # The block could be valid, but we still need to check if votes
-            # agree on the previous block.
-            #
-            # First, only consider blocks with legitimate votes
-            prev_block_list = list(compress(prev_block, vote_validity))
-            # Next, only consider the blocks with 'yes' votes
-            prev_block_valid_list = list(compress(prev_block_list, vote_list))
-            counts = collections.Counter(prev_block_valid_list)
-            # Make sure the majority vote agrees on previous node.
-            # The majority vote must be the most common, by definition.
-            # If it's not, there is no majority agreement on the previous
-            # block.
-            if counts.most_common()[0][1] > math.floor(n_voters / 2):
-                return Bigchain.BLOCK_VALID
-            else:
-                return Bigchain.BLOCK_INVALID
-        else:
-            return Bigchain.BLOCK_UNDECIDED
+    def block_election_status(self, block):
+        """Tally the votes on a block, and return the status:
+           valid, invalid, or undecided."""
+        return self.block_election(block)['status']
diff --git a/bigchaindb/models.py b/bigchaindb/models.py
index 4f7d31f2..771d6d6a 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/models.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/models.py
@@ -217,8 +217,7 @@ class Block(object):
             ValidationError: If there is a problem with the block
         """
         # Check if the block was created by a federation node
-        possible_voters = (bigchain.nodes_except_me + [bigchain.me])
-        if self.node_pubkey not in possible_voters:
+        if self.node_pubkey not in bigchain.federation:
             raise SybilError('Only federation nodes can create blocks')
 
         # Check that the signature is valid
diff --git a/bigchaindb/pipelines/election.py b/bigchaindb/pipelines/election.py
index 850613a3..a5818b3e 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/pipelines/election.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/pipelines/election.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ from bigchaindb import Bigchain
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+logger_results = logging.getLogger('pipeline.election.results')
 
 
 class Election:
@@ -32,14 +33,29 @@ class Election:
             next_vote: The next vote.
 
         """
-        next_block = self.bigchain.get_block(
-            next_vote['vote']['voting_for_block'])
+        try:
+            block_id = next_vote['vote']['voting_for_block']
+            node = next_vote['node_pubkey']
+        except KeyError:
+            return
 
-        block_status = self.bigchain.block_election_status(next_block['id'],
-                                                           next_block['block']['voters'])
-        if block_status == self.bigchain.BLOCK_INVALID:
+        next_block = self.bigchain.get_block(block_id)
+
+        result = self.bigchain.block_election(next_block)
+        if result['status'] == self.bigchain.BLOCK_INVALID:
             return Block.from_dict(next_block)
 
+        # Log the result
+        if result['status'] != self.bigchain.BLOCK_UNDECIDED:
+            msg = 'node:%s block:%s status:%s' % \
+                (node, block_id, result['status'])
+            # Extra data can be accessed via the log formatter.
+            # See logging.dictConfig.
+            logger_results.debug(msg, extra={
+                'current_vote': next_vote,
+                'election_result': result,
+            })
+
     def requeue_transactions(self, invalid_block):
         """
         Liquidates transactions from invalid blocks so they can be processed again
diff --git a/bigchaindb/pipelines/vote.py b/bigchaindb/pipelines/vote.py
index e4273470..9664c520 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/pipelines/vote.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/pipelines/vote.py
@@ -48,8 +48,7 @@ class Vote:
                                                    [([self.bigchain.me], 1)])
 
     def validate_block(self, block):
-        if not self.bigchain.has_previous_vote(block['id'],
-                                               block['block']['voters']):
+        if not self.bigchain.has_previous_vote(block['id']):
             try:
                 block = Block.from_dict(block)
             except (exceptions.InvalidHash):
diff --git a/bigchaindb/utils.py b/bigchaindb/utils.py
index 1860dd3e..4d7177d9 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/utils.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/utils.py
@@ -3,9 +3,6 @@ import threading
 import queue
 import multiprocessing as mp
 
-from bigchaindb.common import crypto
-from bigchaindb.common.utils import serialize
-
 
 class ProcessGroup(object):
 
@@ -116,30 +113,6 @@ def condition_details_has_owner(condition_details, owner):
     return False
 
 
-def verify_vote_signature(voters, signed_vote):
-    """Verify the signature of a vote
-
-    A valid vote should have been signed by a voter's private key.
-
-    Args:
-        voters (list): voters of the block that is under election
-        signed_vote (dict): a vote with the `signature` included.
-
-    Returns:
-        bool: True if the signature is correct, False otherwise.
-    """
-
-    signature = signed_vote['signature']
-    pk_base58 = signed_vote['node_pubkey']
-
-    # immediately return False if the voter is not in the block voter list
-    if pk_base58 not in voters:
-        return False
-
-    public_key = crypto.PublicKey(pk_base58)
-    return public_key.verify(serialize(signed_vote['vote']).encode(), signature)
-
-
 def is_genesis_block(block):
     """Check if the block is the genesis block.
 
diff --git a/bigchaindb/voting.py b/bigchaindb/voting.py
index b12bc4df..0622a363 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/voting.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/voting.py
@@ -12,14 +12,14 @@ UNDECIDED = 'undecided'
 
 class Voting:
     """
-    Everything to do with creating and checking votes.
+    Everything to do with verifying and counting votes for block election.
 
     All functions in this class should be referentially transparent, that is,
     they always give the same output for a given input. This makes it easier
     to test. This also means no logging!
 
     Assumptions regarding data:
-        * Vote is a dictionary, but it is not assumed that any properties are.
+        * Vote is a dictionary, but no assumptions are made on it's properties.
         * Everything else is assumed to be structurally correct, otherwise errors
         may be thrown.
     """
@@ -30,10 +30,11 @@ class Voting:
         Calculate the election status of a block.
         """
         eligible_voters = set(block['block']['voters']) & set(keyring)
+        n_voters = len(eligible_voters)
         eligible_votes, ineligible_votes = \
             cls.partition_eligible_votes(votes, eligible_voters)
-        n_voters = len(eligible_voters)
         results = cls.count_votes(eligible_votes)
+        results['block_id'] = block['id']
         results['status'] = cls.decide_votes(n_voters, **results['counts'])
         results['ineligible'] = ineligible_votes
         return results
diff --git a/tests/db/test_bigchain_api.py b/tests/db/test_bigchain_api.py
index c39a104f..c5c9f1ae 100644
--- a/tests/db/test_bigchain_api.py
+++ b/tests/db/test_bigchain_api.py
@@ -84,12 +84,12 @@ class TestBigchainApi(object):
         block = b.create_block([tx])
         b.write_block(block)
 
-        assert b.has_previous_vote(block.id, block.voters) is False
+        assert b.has_previous_vote(block.id) is False
 
         vote = b.vote(block.id, b.get_last_voted_block().id, True)
         b.write_vote(vote)
 
-        assert b.has_previous_vote(block.id, block.voters) is True
+        assert b.has_previous_vote(block.id) is True
 
     @pytest.mark.genesis
     def test_get_spent_with_double_inclusion_detected(self, b, monkeypatch):
@@ -465,58 +465,6 @@ class TestBigchainApi(object):
 
         assert retrieved_block_1 == retrieved_block_2
 
-    @pytest.mark.genesis
-    def test_more_votes_than_voters(self, b):
-        from bigchaindb.common.exceptions import MultipleVotesError
-
-        block_1 = dummy_block()
-        b.write_block(block_1)
-        # insert duplicate votes
-        vote_1 = b.vote(block_1.id, b.get_last_voted_block().id, True)
-        vote_2 = b.vote(block_1.id, b.get_last_voted_block().id, True)
-        vote_2['node_pubkey'] = 'aaaaaaa'
-        b.write_vote(vote_1)
-        b.write_vote(vote_2)
-
-        with pytest.raises(MultipleVotesError) as excinfo:
-            b.block_election_status(block_1.id, block_1.voters)
-        assert excinfo.value.args[0] == 'Block {block_id} has {n_votes} votes cast, but only {n_voters} voters'\
-            .format(block_id=block_1.id, n_votes=str(2), n_voters=str(1))
-
-    def test_multiple_votes_single_node(self, b, genesis_block):
-        from bigchaindb.common.exceptions import MultipleVotesError
-
-        block_1 = dummy_block()
-        b.write_block(block_1)
-        # insert duplicate votes
-        for i in range(2):
-            b.write_vote(b.vote(block_1.id, genesis_block.id, True))
-
-        with pytest.raises(MultipleVotesError) as excinfo:
-            b.block_election_status(block_1.id, block_1.voters)
-        assert excinfo.value.args[0] == 'Block {block_id} has multiple votes ({n_votes}) from voting node {node_id}'\
-            .format(block_id=block_1.id, n_votes=str(2), node_id=b.me)
-
-        with pytest.raises(MultipleVotesError) as excinfo:
-            b.has_previous_vote(block_1.id, block_1.voters)
-        assert excinfo.value.args[0] == 'Block {block_id} has {n_votes} votes from public key {me}'\
-            .format(block_id=block_1.id, n_votes=str(2), me=b.me)
-
-    @pytest.mark.genesis
-    def test_improper_vote_error(selfs, b):
-        from bigchaindb.common.exceptions import ImproperVoteError
-
-        block_1 = dummy_block()
-        b.write_block(block_1)
-        vote_1 = b.vote(block_1.id, b.get_last_voted_block().id, True)
-        # mangle the signature
-        vote_1['signature'] = 'a' * 87
-        b.write_vote(vote_1)
-        with pytest.raises(ImproperVoteError) as excinfo:
-            b.has_previous_vote(block_1.id, block_1.id)
-        assert excinfo.value.args[0] == 'Block {block_id} already has an incorrectly signed ' \
-                                        'vote from public key {me}'.format(block_id=block_1.id, me=b.me)
-
     @pytest.mark.usefixtures('inputs')
     def test_assign_transaction_one_node(self, b, user_pk, user_sk):
         from bigchaindb.backend import query
diff --git a/tests/pipelines/test_election.py b/tests/pipelines/test_election.py
index 5cf6fc14..3127dcaf 100644
--- a/tests/pipelines/test_election.py
+++ b/tests/pipelines/test_election.py
@@ -83,12 +83,6 @@ def test_check_for_quorum_invalid_prev_node(b, user_pk):
 def test_check_for_quorum_valid(b, user_pk):
     from bigchaindb.models import Transaction
 
-    e = election.Election()
-
-    # create blocks with transactions
-    tx1 = Transaction.create([b.me], [([user_pk], 1)])
-    test_block = b.create_block([tx1])
-
     # simulate a federation with four voters
     key_pairs = [crypto.generate_key_pair() for _ in range(4)]
     test_federation = [
@@ -96,8 +90,13 @@ def test_check_for_quorum_valid(b, user_pk):
         for key_pair in key_pairs
     ]
 
+    b.nodes_except_me = [key_pair[1] for key_pair in key_pairs]
+
+    # create blocks with transactions
+    tx1 = Transaction.create([b.me], [([user_pk], 1)])
+    test_block = b.create_block([tx1])
+
     # add voters to block and write
-    test_block.voters = [key_pair[1] for key_pair in key_pairs]
     test_block = test_block.sign(b.me_private)
     b.write_block(test_block)
 
@@ -108,10 +107,20 @@ def test_check_for_quorum_valid(b, user_pk):
     for vote in votes:
         b.write_vote(vote)
 
+    e = election.Election()
+    e.bigchain = b
+
     # since this block is valid, should go nowhere
     assert e.check_for_quorum(votes[-1]) is None
 
 
+@patch('bigchaindb.core.Bigchain.get_block')
+def test_invalid_vote(get_block, b):
+    e = election.Election()
+    assert e.check_for_quorum({}) is None
+    get_block.assert_not_called()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.bdb
 def test_check_requeue_transaction(b, user_pk):
     from bigchaindb.models import Transaction
diff --git a/tests/pipelines/test_stale_monitor.py b/tests/pipelines/test_stale_monitor.py
index 06ee5b5f..6e2b12b8 100644
--- a/tests/pipelines/test_stale_monitor.py
+++ b/tests/pipelines/test_stale_monitor.py
@@ -36,7 +36,11 @@ def test_reassign_transactions(b, user_pk):
 
     stm = stale.StaleTransactionMonitor(timeout=0.001,
                                         backlog_reassign_delay=0.001)
-    stm.reassign_transactions(tx.to_dict())
+    # This worked previously because transaction['assignee'] was only used if
+    # bigchain.nodes_except_me was not empty.
+    tx_dict = tx.to_dict()
+    tx_dict['assignee'] = b.me
+    stm.reassign_transactions(tx_dict)
 
     # test with federation
     tx = Transaction.create([b.me], [([user_pk], 1)])
@@ -58,7 +62,7 @@ def test_reassign_transactions(b, user_pk):
     tx = tx.sign([b.me_private])
     stm.bigchain.nodes_except_me = ['lol']
     b.write_transaction(tx)
-    stm.bigchain.nodes_except_me = None
+    stm.bigchain.nodes_except_me = []
 
     tx = list(query.get_stale_transactions(b.connection, 0))[0]
     stm.reassign_transactions(tx)
diff --git a/tests/test_consensus.py b/tests/test_consensus.py
index 7310f514..e69de29b 100644
--- a/tests/test_consensus.py
+++ b/tests/test_consensus.py
@@ -1,40 +0,0 @@
-
-def test_verify_vote_passes(b, structurally_valid_vote):
-    from bigchaindb.consensus import BaseConsensusRules
-    from bigchaindb.common import crypto
-    from bigchaindb.common.utils import serialize
-    vote_body = structurally_valid_vote['vote']
-    vote_data = serialize(vote_body)
-    signature = crypto.PrivateKey(b.me_private).sign(vote_data.encode())
-    vote_signed = {
-        'node_pubkey': b.me,
-        'signature': signature.decode(),
-        'vote': vote_body
-    }
-    assert BaseConsensusRules.verify_vote([b.me], vote_signed)
-
-
-def test_verify_vote_fails_signature(b, structurally_valid_vote):
-    from bigchaindb.consensus import BaseConsensusRules
-    vote_body = structurally_valid_vote['vote']
-    vote_signed = {
-        'node_pubkey': b.me,
-        'signature': 'a' * 86,
-        'vote': vote_body
-    }
-    assert not BaseConsensusRules.verify_vote([b.me], vote_signed)
-
-
-def test_verify_vote_fails_schema(b):
-    from bigchaindb.consensus import BaseConsensusRules
-    from bigchaindb.common import crypto
-    from bigchaindb.common.utils import serialize
-    vote_body = {}
-    vote_data = serialize(vote_body)
-    signature = crypto.PrivateKey(b.me_private).sign(vote_data.encode())
-    vote_signed = {
-        'node_pubkey': b.me,
-        'signature': signature.decode(),
-        'vote': vote_body
-    }
-    assert not BaseConsensusRules.verify_vote([b.me], vote_signed)
diff --git a/tests/test_core.py b/tests/test_core.py
index 8e0a63fc..f939ad05 100644
--- a/tests/test_core.py
+++ b/tests/test_core.py
@@ -80,13 +80,3 @@ def test_get_blocks_status_containing_tx(monkeypatch):
     bigchain = Bigchain(public_key='pubkey', private_key='privkey')
     with pytest.raises(Exception):
         bigchain.get_blocks_status_containing_tx('txid')
-
-
-def test_has_previous_vote(monkeypatch):
-    from bigchaindb.core import Bigchain
-    monkeypatch.setattr(
-        'bigchaindb.utils.verify_vote_signature', lambda voters, vote: False)
-    bigchain = Bigchain(public_key='pubkey', private_key='privkey')
-    block = {'votes': ({'node_pubkey': 'pubkey'},)}
-    with pytest.raises(Exception):
-        bigchain.has_previous_vote(block)
diff --git a/tests/test_models.py b/tests/test_models.py
index 54d407f8..8acf6507 100644
--- a/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/tests/test_models.py
@@ -115,13 +115,12 @@ class TestBlockModel(object):
 
         transactions = [Transaction.create([b.me], [([b.me], 1)])]
         timestamp = gen_timestamp()
-        voters = ['Qaaa', 'Qbbb']
 
         block = {
             'timestamp': timestamp,
             'transactions': [tx.to_dict() for tx in transactions],
             'node_pubkey': b.me,
-            'voters': voters,
+            'voters': list(b.federation),
         }
 
         block_body = {
diff --git a/tests/test_voting.py b/tests/test_voting.py
index a14345a2..d1e1957d 100644
--- a/tests/test_voting.py
+++ b/tests/test_voting.py
@@ -201,3 +201,37 @@ def test_verify_vote_schema(b):
     assert not Voting.verify_vote_schema(vote)
     vote = b.vote('b', 'a' * 64, True)
     assert not Voting.verify_vote_schema(vote)
+
+
+################################################################################
+# block_election tests
+
+
+def test_block_election(b):
+
+    class TestVoting(Voting):
+        @classmethod
+        def verify_vote_signature(cls, vote):
+            return True
+
+        @classmethod
+        def verify_vote_schema(cls, vote):
+            return True
+
+    keyring = 'abc'
+    block = {'id': 'xyz', 'block': {'voters': 'ab'}}
+    votes = [{
+        'node_pubkey': c,
+        'vote': {'is_block_valid': True, 'previous_block': 'a'}
+    } for c in 'abc']
+
+    assert TestVoting.block_election(block, votes, keyring) == {
+        'status': VALID,
+        'block_id': 'xyz',
+        'counts': {'n_valid': 2, 'n_invalid': 0},
+        'ineligible': [votes[-1]],
+        'cheat': [],
+        'malformed': [],
+        'previous_block': 'a',
+        'other_previous_block': {},
+    }
diff --git a/tests/web/test_statuses.py b/tests/web/test_statuses.py
index af9d09d3..716cc0d2 100644
--- a/tests/web/test_statuses.py
+++ b/tests/web/test_statuses.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ def test_get_block_status_endpoint_undecided(b, client):
     block = b.create_block([tx])
     b.write_block(block)
 
-    status = b.block_election_status(block.id, block.voters)
+    status = b.block_election_status(block)
 
     res = client.get(STATUSES_ENDPOINT + '?block_id=' + block.id)
     assert status == res.json['status']
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def test_get_block_status_endpoint_valid(b, client):
     vote = b.vote(block.id, b.get_last_voted_block().id, True)
     b.write_vote(vote)
 
-    status = b.block_election_status(block.id, block.voters)
+    status = b.block_election_status(block)
 
     res = client.get(STATUSES_ENDPOINT + '?block_id=' + block.id)
     assert status == res.json['status']
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def test_get_block_status_endpoint_invalid(b, client):
     vote = b.vote(block.id, b.get_last_voted_block().id, False)
     b.write_vote(vote)
 
-    status = b.block_election_status(block.id, block.voters)
+    status = b.block_election_status(block)
 
     res = client.get(STATUSES_ENDPOINT + '?block_id=' + block.id)
     assert status == res.json['status']