# Voting and Incentives

{% hint style="danger" %}
Providing incentives is usually done by protocols. Providing an incentive means you will not be able to withdraw it. If you want to earn incentives you must lock TKN into veTKN and cast  votes for the pool(s) you wish to earn the incentive(s) from.\
\
If you are unsure please ask in the Discord before proceeding.
{% endhint %}

`veTKN` holders can decide on which liquidity pools receive emissions in a given epoch by voting on their preferred liquidity pool *gauges*. `TKN` emissions are distributed proportionally to the total votes a liquidity pool receives.

In return, voters receive 100% of the trading fees and incentives collected through the liquidity pool they vote for.

{% hint style="success" %}
For most veTKN holders, the main objective would be voting on the pool capable of netting them the highest return.
{% endhint %}

### Gauge Voting

Each epoch lasts for 7 days, after which all incentives and trading fees are distributed as a lump sum to voters. You earn only from the gauges (pools) you have voted for.

* Trading fees (from the previous epoch) and incentives are claimable as a lump sum after the Epoch comes to a close from your [Dashboard](https://app.tokan.exchange/dashboard).
* **Votes must be made every week**, and will not carry over from the previous epoch.

### Protocol Incentives 

Protocols aiming to build up liquidity for their tokens may incentivize pools to attract a greater share of veTKN votes. Incentivizing a pool can increase the amount of votes on a gauges pool as: 

Incentivizing a pool -> More votes -> More TKN emissions to the pools gauge -> More liquidity.

### Claiming Voting Rewards

Voting Rewards are claimable after the Epoch has ended (n+1).

#### Voting Rewards claim timeline:

* A new epoch starts Thursday (00:00 UTC).
* Incentives are deposited at any point in the Epoch.
* Voters vote for their preferred pools.
* Once the epoch ends (every Thursday), users are able to claim voting rewards from the [Dashboard](https://app.tokan.exchange/dashboard).


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.tokan.exchange/protocol/voting-and-incentives.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.