> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://valargroup.gitbook.io/shielded-vote-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://valargroup.gitbook.io/shielded-vote-docs/userflow/delegating-your-vote.md).

# Delegating Your Vote

Delegation allows you to assign your voting rights — fully or partially — to another party.

## How delegation works

Delegation follows the same note-spend model as voting. Your Vote Authority Note (VAN) is consumed and two new VANs are produced:

* One for the delegate (with their hotkey and the delegated amount)
* One for you (with the remaining amount)

The `allowed_proposals` bitmask is preserved — the delegate inherits the same proposal authority you had.

## Partial delegation

You can delegate only a portion of your voting weight. For example, if you have 100 ZEC of voting authority, you could delegate 30 ZEC to one party and keep 70 ZEC for yourself.

Nobody can see the delegation amount — the VAN is hidden inside the vote commitment tree, and the ZKP proves the split is valid without revealing the amounts.

## What the delegate can do

The delegate receives a VAN and can:

* Vote on proposals (subject to the `allowed_proposals` bitmask)
* Further delegate to other parties

Each action consumes the delegate's VAN and produces new ones, following the same flow as direct voting.

See [Delegation Setup](/shielded-vote-docs/delegation/delegation-setup.md) for protocol details and [Partial Delegation](/shielded-vote-docs/delegation/partial-delegation.md) for the partial delegation mechanism.