diff --git a/bigchaindb/voting.py b/bigchaindb/voting.py
index 21ce8195..f8511644 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/voting.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/voting.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import collections
+from bigchaindb.backend.exceptions import BigchainDBCritical
 from bigchaindb.common.schema import SchemaValidationError, validate_vote_schema
 from bigchaindb.common.utils import serialize
 from bigchaindb.common.crypto import PublicKey
@@ -126,7 +127,7 @@ class Voting:
 
         # Check insane cases. This is basic, not exhaustive.
         if n_valid + n_invalid > n_voters or n_agree_prev_block > n_voters:
-            raise ValueError('Arguments not sane: %s' % {
+            raise BigchainDBCritical('Arguments not sane: %s' % {
                 'n_voters': n_voters,
                 'n_valid': n_valid,
                 'n_invalid': n_invalid,
diff --git a/tests/test_voting.py b/tests/test_voting.py
index cea34de0..13822d6d 100644
--- a/tests/test_voting.py
+++ b/tests/test_voting.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import pytest
-from unittest.mock import patch
 
+from bigchaindb.backend.exceptions import BigchainDBCritical
 from bigchaindb.core import Bigchain
 from bigchaindb.voting import Voting, INVALID, VALID, UNDECIDED
 
@@ -95,13 +95,13 @@ def test_decide_votes_invalid(kwargs):
 
 
 def test_decide_votes_checks_arguments():
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+    with pytest.raises(BigchainDBCritical):
         Voting.decide_votes(n_voters=1, n_valid=2, n_invalid=0,
                             n_agree_prev_block=0)
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+    with pytest.raises(BigchainDBCritical):
         Voting.decide_votes(n_voters=1, n_valid=0, n_invalid=2,
                             n_agree_prev_block=0)
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+    with pytest.raises(BigchainDBCritical):
         Voting.decide_votes(n_voters=1, n_valid=0, n_invalid=0,
                             n_agree_prev_block=2)