> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.kuma.bond/kuma-protocol/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.kuma.bond/kuma-protocol/dao-and-governance/vmimo-and-voting-power.md).

# vMIMO and Voting Power

## Voting escrow MIMO (vMIMO) = Voting Power

In order to participate in KUMA Protocol governance, token holders must lock their MIMO in the VotingEscrow contract. Users receive non-transferable vMIMO in exchange as the following:

| Locked Amount | Duration | Voting Power |
| ------------- | -------- | ------------ |
| 1 MIMO        | 4 years  | 1 vMIMO      |
| 1 MIMO        | 3 years  | 0.75 vMIMO   |
| 1 MIMO        | 2 years  | 0.5 vMIMO    |
| 1 MIMO        | 1 year   | 0.25 vMIMO   |

Users’ voting power decays as their lock period comes closer to expiration but can be extended at any time. The voting power is calculated as follows:

$$
VotingWeight^i = stake^i \* remainingLockup^i
$$

The staking contract keeps track of the remaining lockup in real-time without any user intervention. According to the formula, voting power is topped up at the moment of deposit and decreases linearly afterward.

<figure><img src="/files/HYK27AgrnxJiZaNx7sJ1" alt=""><figcaption><p>Voting power decreases linearly as time progresses, and vanishes completely at lockup expiration.</p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
Note that locking tokens beyond the MAXTIME of 4 years will not earn additional voting power. Locking 100 tokens for four years now and locking 100 tokens for more than four years earns the same amount of voting power.
{% endhint %}

## **Where to lock MIMO ?**

You can increase your voting power by locking MIMO [here](https://app.mimo.capital/vote) (available on Ethereum, Polygon & Fantom) and obtain a proportional amount of vMIMO (calculated based on the amount of MIMO a user locks up and the duration they choose to lock it for).

{% hint style="info" %}
If you don't know how to lock MIMO, you can follow this [guide](broken://pages/oG3TUaIEieKBoIXsV69S).
{% endhint %}

## What next ?

Now that you have vMIMO, you can participate in the various governance votes that are published on [KUMA Snapshot](https://snapshot.org/#/kumaprotocol.eth/proposal/0xbfb5b009be95833db3fd2c1feb9acd086716ae2b84d624ec10017dd1c8f24c2d).

Note that any user can choose to delegate all or a portion of his voting power to someone else on [KUMA Snapshot](https://snapshot.org/#/kumaprotocol.eth/proposal/0xbfb5b009be95833db3fd2c1feb9acd086716ae2b84d624ec10017dd1c8f24c2d) by clicking on "delegate".

{% hint style="warning" %}
Be sure to lock your MIMO before the snapshot vote starts, or your MIMO will not be available for voting!
{% endhint %}