> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.aqua.network/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.aqua.network/aqua-and-ice/overview/voting-incentives-and-delegation.md).

# Voting incentives and delegation

Delegates can focus on voting incentives, ecosystem growth, or may stay inactive. Your rewards depend on their approach, so choose delegates whose strategy matches your priorities.

In Aquarius, market votes can be incentivized with **voting incentives** — extra rewards offered by projects, or by the protocol itself on highly traded markets, to attract ICE votes to specific pools.

When you delegate your **upvoteICE** to a delegate:

* **Voting rewards always flow back to you, the delegator**, never to the delegate.
* Your earnings depend on how your delegate chooses to vote.

There are **no voting incentives or rewards** connected to **governICE** delegation. Governance votes are about protocol decisions, not direct incentives.

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### Why delegation helps

Voting incentives are not static — they change **week by week**. To maximize rewards on your own, you would need to check markets regularly and update votes on time. Delegation solves this by letting an active delegate handle these updates for you.

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### Delegate strategies and impact

Different delegates may follow different approaches:

* **Reward-focused** – aiming to maximize short-term rewards by voting on markets with the highest voting incentives.
* **Ecosystem-focused** – prioritizing long-term protocol health or liquidity depth, which may not always align with the top voting incentive markets.
* **Inactive delegates** – if a delegate does not use the delegated ICE, no voting rewards are earned.

As a delegator, your voting reward income can vary widely depending on the delegate’s voting style. Review their activity and choose the delegate whose priorities align with yours.

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