Getting Started

Getting Started — Server Administrators

New to VotingPlugin? Start here. These guides take you from a new installation to a verified vote and reward. They are for server owners and administrators, not a guide for players using /vote.

Release baseline: These guides are checked against the latest published stable release, VotingPlugin 7.1.1 (July 23, 2026). It requires Java 21. Some features in development builds are not available in 7.1.1.

Choose your setup

Your server	Start here	What you will configure
One Paper or Spigot server, without BungeeCord or Velocity	Standalone Server Quick Start	VotingPlugin, a Votifier listener, one voting website, and a simple reward
Velocity or BungeeCord network with two or more backend servers	Proxy Network Quick Start	Vote listener on the proxy, VotingPlugin on proxy and backends, shared SQL storage, and vote routing
Already installed, but votes or rewards are not working	Verify Your First Vote	Separate internal command tests from real end-to-end vote delivery

Follow the standalone path unless you actually run a Velocity/BungeeCord network. A single Paper server does not need MySQL or proxy settings to get started.

How the pieces fit together

1. A player votes on a Minecraft server-list website.
2. The website sends a vote notification to a Votifier-compatible listener (for example, VotifierPlus). This is a separate plugin.
3. VotingPlugin processes the notification, tracks totals, and performs the configured rewards.
4. On a proxy network, VotingPlugin also forwards the vote to the appropriate backend(s).

VotingPlugin is not the public Votifier listener. Installing VotingPlugin alone does not open a Votifier port.

Before you begin

• A supported Paper/Spigot server and Java 21 for VotingPlugin 7.1.1.
• Access to server files, console logs, and full restarts.
• A public TCP port separate from your Minecraft game port that a voting website can reach. Your host may need to allocate an extra port.
• One Minecraft server-list website that lets you set a Votifier address, port, and public key or token.
• An operator/admin account and a test player name that has joined the server.

Download VotingPlugin from SpigotMC or the published release. Download VotifierPlus from its project page; NuVotifier is another compatible listener. Use compatible server and proxy artifacts for your topology.

A beginner-friendly setup order

1. Install and start both plugins. Check the console for startup errors.
2. Expose the Votifier listener port. Configure your listing website with the listener's public address, actual port, and correct key/token.
3. Create or configure one voting site. Use /av VotePresets (in-game), automatic site detection, or VoteSites.yml.
4. Add one simple reward. Use an inline Rewards block. Leave advanced features for later.
5. Test twice. First use the VotingPlugin admin command, then send a real or listener-generated vote through the public port. Both checks matter.
6. Finish setup. Check /vote, check logs, and disable AutoCreateVoteSites after all expected sites are configured.

For the exact steps and copyable examples, choose Standalone or Proxy above.

Once the first vote works

Next, customize Rewards, VoteShop, Vote Reminders, and Vote Streaks. For the full option-by-option reference, use Setup, File Layout, and Commands & Permissions.

Have a problem? Start with the first-vote troubleshooting table, then Votifier Troubleshooting. Never post private keys, tokens, or database passwords.