# vote

URL: /business/nouns/problem/vote · Id: `verb:Problem.vote` · Call: `await $.Problem.vote({ … })` (SDK) or the `do` tool at `https://api.sb/mcp`. Inputs says what to pass, Outputs what returns, When it waits who approves.

> Vote records a Contact saying a Problem on the public board is theirs too, with their words kept as Evidence.

Vote records a [Contact](/business/nouns/contact) saying a [Problem](/business/nouns/problem) on the public board is theirs too, with their words kept as [Evidence](/business/nouns/evidence).

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `problem` | [Problem](/business/nouns/problem) | Yes | The Problem. |
| `contact` | [Contact](/business/nouns/contact) | Yes | Who votes. |
| `words` | `text` | No | What they said, in their own words. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `problem` | [Problem](/business/nouns/problem) | Yes | The Problem, with the vote counted. |

## Effects
| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Action class | None: it runs within its seat's Limits |
| Door | Two-way: it runs at once |
| Modes | `try` previews it and stores nothing; `send` returns a pending Action; `do` (default) waits for the result |
| Idempotent | With a key: a repeat with the same `Idempotency-Key` returns the first Action, and a repeat without one runs again |
| Undo | [Action.undo](/business/nouns/action/undo) reverses it |
| Emits | [`Problem.voted`](/business/events/Problem.voted) |
| Performed by | The [Product Lead](/agents/product/product-lead) |

## Refuses when
| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The key is valid, but its scopes do not allow this operation. | [`forbidden`](/code/api/errors/forbidden) | Use a key whose scopes cover the operation, or ask an owner of the namespace to grant them. | None. |

## When it waits
| Gate | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Decision class | Low: two-way, nothing at stake |
| [Delay window](/systems/trust-and-governance/controls/one-way-windows) | None: it runs once review passes. |
| Limit | The call [Limit](/business/nouns/limit) of the [Permission](/business/nouns/permission) it runs under. |
| Over the Limit | It waits `pending` for an [Approval](/business/nouns/approval) from the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder). Approved, it runs; refused, it ends `refused` with [`limit-exceeded`](/code/api/errors/limit-exceeded); unanswered by its deadline, it ends `canceled`. |

## Example

**Ask**

```text
Vote the latest problem with a contact.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/leaseline.app/problems/problem_UzvXXfKsJB/vote \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"contact":"contact_WsrosCQi6J"}'
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app",
  "problem": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app/problems/problem_UzvXXfKsJB",
    "$type": "Problem",
    "statement": "Tracks lease renewals for small property managers."
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app/actions/act_br07HsG8MG",
    "operation": "Problem.vote",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app/actions/act_br07HsG8MG"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

```ts
import { $ } from 'startup-builder'

const problem = await $.Problem.vote({ problem: 'problem_UzvXXfKsJB', contact: 'contact_WsrosCQi6J' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Problem.vote --json '{"problem":"problem_UzvXXfKsJB","contact":"contact_WsrosCQi6J"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Problem.vote({ problem: 'problem_UzvXXfKsJB', contact: 'contact_WsrosCQi6J' })"
  }
}
```