How to Calculate DAO Voting Power
What is DAO Voting Power?
The DAO Voting Power Calculator computes your governance influence in a Decentralized Autonomous Organization based on your token holdings, delegation received, and voting mechanism (token-weighted, quadratic, or conviction voting).
Formula
Voting Power = (Held Tokens + Delegated Tokens) / Total Voting Supply × 100%
- H
- Held Tokens (tokens) — Governance tokens in your wallet
- D
- Delegated Tokens (tokens) — Tokens delegated to you by other holders
- TS
- Total Supply (tokens) — Total voting-eligible token supply
- VP
- Voting Power (%) — Your percentage share of governance votes
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1Enter your token balance and any tokens delegated to you by other holders
- 2Look up the total circulating or voting-eligible token supply for the DAO
- 3Calculate your percentage of total voting power under different voting systems
- 4Compare the cost to acquire a meaningful governance position (1-5% of supply)
Worked Examples
Input
50,000 UNI tokens held + 20,000 delegated, total voting supply 500M UNI
Result
Voting power = 70,000 / 500,000,000 = 0.014% — meaningful for proposals but far from controlling
Input
Quadratic voting: 10,000 tokens, √10,000 = 100 votes out of √(1B total) ≈ 31,623
Result
Quadratic power = 100 / 31,623 = 0.316% — quadratic voting gives small holders more relative power
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✕Comparing raw token holdings without accounting for delegation dynamics
- ✕Assuming all tokens participate in votes — typical DAO participation is only 5-15% of supply
- ✕Not delegating tokens when you cannot actively participate in governance yourself
Frequently Asked Questions
What is token delegation in DAOs?
Delegation allows token holders to assign their voting power to another address without transferring tokens. This enables active community members to vote on behalf of passive holders, improving governance participation.
How much voting power is needed to pass a DAO proposal?
Typical requirements: 1-2.5% of total supply to submit a proposal, and quorum of 4-10% of supply must vote. To pass, most DAOs require a simple majority (>50%) of votes cast in favor.
Ready to calculate? Try the free DAO Voting Power Calculator
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