Decentralized Proposals and Voting Systems: Governance UX That Members Actually Use

A practical playbook for designing onchain and offchain governance that people actually show up for—using today’s most effective patterns across Ethereum, Optimism, Arbitrum, Solana, Polkadot, and Cosmos.

In this post you’ll learn how leading protocols are increasing turnout and execution reliability with gasless voting, optimistic execution, granular roles, delegate UX, sybil resistance, and fraud-proofed cross-chain messaging—plus a blueprint you can deploy in 90 days.

TL;DR (description)

Decision-makers don’t need another DAO primer; they need a governance UX that drives participation and executes safely. This guide distills what’s working now—gasless voting, oSnap/SafeSnap, OpenZeppelin Governor upgrades, Optimism’s delegate UX, Polkadot’s conviction voting, Solana Realms v2 improvements—and shows how to ship it with precise settings, guardrails, and KPIs.

Why governance “participation” often stalls (and how to fix it)

Even large DAOs struggle to turn tokenholders into consistent voters. For example, ArbitrumDAO’s 2024–2025 monthly analytics show proposals routinely under category-average participation, with seasonal dips around major events (e.g., ETHDenver) and rebounds afterward. In March 2025, offchain participation jumped 7.84% while onchain rose 1.32%, but most proposals still trailed historical averages—underscoring that timing, UX friction, and discovery matter as much as ideology. (forum.arbitrum.foundation)

What moves the needle in practice:

Reduce friction to near-zero (gasless flows, one-click delegation, mobile-first ballots).
Meet users where they are (delegate discovery, notifications, clear windows that avoid conference weeks).
Ship trust-minimized execution (optimistic or oracle-backed execution, role-scoped permissions, timelocks).
Prove it’s safe to click “Execute” (transaction simulation, alerts/monitoring, rehearseable runbooks).

Offchain vs onchain governance: pick the right execution path

There’s no single “best” venue. The question is how you combine signaling, voting, and execution with the least friction and highest safety for your stage.

Offchain signaling + trustless execution: Snapshot + SafeSnap (Reality.eth) or oSnap (UMA).
- Snapshot is familiar (EIP-712 signatures, wallet-native), while SafeSnap uses Reality.eth to turn passing Snapshot proposals into executable Safe transactions after a cooldown and bonded Q&A. UMA’s oSnap uses an optimistic oracle to do the same with different security-economics and automation. (docs.snapshot.box)
Fully onchain: OpenZeppelin Governor (Tally, Agora interfaces) with timelocks and composable counting/compatibility modules. This is the standard, battle-tested approach across EVM ecosystems and integrates with rich delegate tooling. (blog.openzeppelin.com)
Non‑EVM options with strong UX:
- Solana’s Realms (SPL Governance) for fully onchain proposals/treasury with modern UI and mobile optimizations. (docs.realms.today)
- Polkadot OpenGov with conviction voting and multirole delegation per track for domain-expert decisions. (wiki.polkadot.com)
- Cosmos/AEZ (e.g., Neutron) using DAO DAO contracts plus Interchain Accounts for cross-chain actions, increasingly coordinated with Hub governance. (docs.neutron.org)

If you’re early, start offchain with trustless execution. If you custody critical protocol controls or need upgrade votes, go onchain with Governor.

UX patterns that increase real participation

1) Gasless voting where it matters

ENS enabled gasless voting on Tally (via relayer) with parameters targeted to reduce abuse (ENS primary name set, minimum delegated voting power, capped votes per wallet per year). This is a concrete, repeatable pattern: budget a relayer, define eligibility, cap uses, and review annually. (discuss.ens.domains)

How to roll out quickly:

Fund a relayer budget sized to expected proposals (e.g., 8–12 per year).
Whitelist voting contracts and chains; auto-refresh budgets quarterly.
Add “Vote free” affordances in the UI; show “remaining sponsored votes.”

2) Delegation that people actually use

Optimism’s vote client (Agora) improved delegation discovery with banners, filtering (e.g., most/least voting power, recent delegation), and faster voter pages to cut the “who should I pick?” problem. Combine this with seasonal rewards to recognize high-participation delegates. (vote.optimism.io)
On EVM, OpenZeppelin’s new GovernorCountingOverridable + VotesExtended (Jan 10, 2025) lets a tokenholder override their delegate’s vote mid-vote—a major UX relief valve for contentious proposals. Bake this into new Governor deployments. (openzeppelin.com)

Checklist:

Always show “Delegate now” prompts for undelegated addresses.
Display delegate positions, track records, conflicts, and office hours.
Enable mid-vote override at the contract level where feasible.

3) Trustless execution without signer bottlenecks

SafeSnap (Reality.eth) and oSnap (UMA) make Snapshot votes executable:
- SafeSnap: requires a minimum bond, a 24h+ cooldown, and well-set Reality.eth parameters; anyone can execute after resolution. (docs.snapshot.box)
- oSnap: UMA bots post a bond to its Optimistic Oracle; if uncontested, transactions execute. Default gas ceiling ~500,000 per bundle (configurable), so split large actions. Gitcoin DAO moved treasury payouts to oSnap in 2024 to cut signer toil. (docs.uma.xyz)

Security must-haves for SafeSnap/oSnap:

Monitor module events (e.g., ProposalQuestionCreated) and enforce long questionTimeouts (≥48h) and meaningful bonds. Have the avatar retain veto via markProposalInvalid as a last resort. (zodiac.wiki)

4) Identity and sybil resistance without KYC walls

“Human Passport” (ex–Gitcoin Passport) now offers ML-based model scoring, cluster analysis, onchain stamp minting (incl. Base), and periodic stamp reweighting to blunt gaming—used in Gitcoin’s recent rounds and other airdrops. Use it to gate proposal creation and boost/discount voting weights in signaling phases. (passport.human.tech)
World ID pilots “one human, one vote” experiments (World Vote) using verified human credentials; ideal for parallel “temperature check” experiments when sybil risk is high. (world.org)

Practical guardrail:

Don’t hard‑depend on any single stamp. Require a threshold across multiple stamps or a model score percentile, and rotate stamp weights quarterly to reduce overfitting.

5) Scheduling and proposal hygiene

Data shows participation drops around major ecosystem events; Arbitrum’s February 2025 dip was linked to ETHDenver and a wallet front-end incident. Avoid voting windows overlapping conferences; give minimum 5–7 day windows for complex proposals and provide pre-bundled “yes/no” impact summaries. (forum.arbitrum.foundation)

Execution safety patterns that build confidence

Scope execution power with Zodiac Roles. Assign granular, onchain roles to modules or agents—restrict function selectors, parameters, rate limits—so “execute” can’t overreach beyond what tokenholders approved. It’s attachable to Safe and supports SDK/subgraph tooling. (zodiac.wiki)
Add delay and veto layers. A Delay modifier or timelock gives humans time to react if something goes wrong; retain a narrowly scoped emergency veto (e.g., markProposalInvalid in Reality module) with transparent conditions. (zodiac.wiki)
Simulate before you execute. OpenZeppelin Defender supports pre‑execution simulations and governance monitors with Slack/Telegram alerts. Pair simulation with a runbook for every critical proposal. (forum.openzeppelin.com)
Minority protections. In some orgs, ragequit/fork patterns (Moloch-style “right to exit” or Nouns Fork) are appropriate, letting dissenting minorities exit with their share rather than endlessly fighting. Use sparingly, but it’s a proven circuit-breaker. (molochdao.com)

Patterns by ecosystem (with exact knobs to turn)

Ethereum mainnet and L2s (EVM)

For signaling + execution:
- Snapshot + SafeSnap (Reality.eth)
  - Set minimumBond relative to treasury value-at-risk (e.g., 0.1–1% of median proposal transfer).
  - questionTimeout ≥ 48h; cooldown ≥ 24h; enable answer expiration to prevent zombie executions. (docs.snapshot.box)
- Snapshot + oSnap (UMA)
  - Keep each proposal’s gas under ~500k or split bundles.
  - Track UMA bonds and challenge windows; monitor execution bots. Gitcoin uses this for distributions. (docs.uma.xyz)
For fully onchain:
- OpenZeppelin Governor v5.2 with:
  - GovernorCountingOverridable + VotesExtended for mid‑vote override.
  - GovernorTimelockControl or Compound-compatible variants if migrating.
  - CAIP utilities for multi-chain IDs and ERC‑4337/7579 helpers as you adopt smart accounts. Roadmap includes cross-chain governance modules. (openzeppelin.com)
- Tally for gasless voting where budgeted (ENS precedent). (discuss.ens.domains)
- Delegation UX via Agora/Tally; auto-prompts for undelegated wallets. (vote.optimism.io)
Cross‑chain governance messaging:
- Uniswap’s path shows careful bridge selection and committee assessments; the end state favored Wormhole (and Axelar later via assessment) with continuous review. If you must govern across chains, diversify providers or use standards like ERC-7786 adapters where available. (theblock.co)

Optimism Collective

Approval voting, mission-based funding seasons, and dual houses (Token + Citizens’) create distinct UX needs. Use Agora’s client (vote.optimism.io) with improved delegate discovery and seasonal retro rewards to keep delegates engaged. Schedule cycles to avoid event clashes and publish clear, short, non-technical proposal summaries. (optimism.grant3.co)

Arbitrum DAO

Expect turnout variability; use forum analytics to pick windows, and combine relayer subsidies for big votes with targeted comms. Where front-end or wallet incidents occur, extend voting periods by policy. (forum.arbitrum.foundation)

Solana (Realms / SPL Governance)

Realms v2 focuses on speed, mobile, and a consolidated HQ for proposals and treasury; add integrations like Civic Pass (proposal/vote eligibility) and Dialect notifications. Keep proposal types consistent (executable vs signaling) and publish deterministic “what executes if this passes.” (docs.realms.today)

Polkadot OpenGov

Use conviction voting to convert stronger preference (time‑locked tokens) into higher weight; lean into track-specific delegation so non-experts can still participate credibly. Communicate the differences between approval vs support curves in UI. (wiki.polkadot.com)

Cosmos / AEZ (e.g., Neutron)

Combine DAO DAO‑style modular governance with Interchain Accounts to execute cross‑chain outcomes. Document exactly which actions are local vs remote, and publish a “Chain Manager” map in proposals so voters see blast radius. Note ecosystem shifts (e.g., Neutron’s 2025 “Mercury” sovereignty transition) and ensure alignment with upstream governance if your security model changes. (docs.neutron.org)

A 90‑day rollout blueprint (what we implement for clients)

Week 0–2: Baseline, intent, and risk

Identify what must be onchain now vs later; map controls to venues (e.g., parameter changes → Governor; grants → Snapshot+oSnap).
Choose identity gates (Human Passport model score thresholds; optional World ID experiments for “one human” temp-checks). (passport.human.tech)
Define emergency powers and their narrow scope (Reality markProposalInvalid; Governor timelock delay; Zodiac Delay/Roles). (zodiac.wiki)

Week 3–5: Ship the stack

Deploy Safe + Zodiac Roles; set roles per treasury functions with param limits and rate caps. (zodiac.wiki)
Stand up Snapshot space; add SafeSnap or oSnap plugin; set bonds/cooldowns; write operator runbooks. (docs.snapshot.box)
If onchain: deploy OpenZeppelin Governor v5.2 with override support, timelock, and Tally/Agora integration. (openzeppelin.com)

Week 6–8: Participation levers

Enable gasless voting for prioritized proposals (set budget/eligibility); add “Delegate now” banners and filters. (discuss.ens.domains)
Add alerts/monitors (OpenZeppelin Defender or open-source Monitor) for proposal lifecycle events; require simulation before queue/execute. (docs.openzeppelin.com)

Week 9–12: Prove and iterate

Run two proposals end-to-end (one offchain with trustless execution; one onchain with simulation).
Publish metrics and a postmortem; retune bonds, cooldowns, gas budgets, and stamp weights.

KPIs that predict long‑term health (and real-world benchmarks)

Votable supply delegated: shoot for 50–70% of circulating governance power delegated in year one; prompt undecided wallets at sign-in.
Unique voters per proposal and median time-to-quorum: track weekly; avoid conference overlaps (Arbitrum saw dips around ETHDenver). (forum.arbitrum.foundation)
Delegate responsiveness: participation >70% among top 100 delegates (Optimism rewards this explicitly). Publish a quarterly delegate scorecard. (gov.optimism.io)
Execution reliability: 0 failed execution steps per proposal bundle after simulation; for SafeSnap/oSnap, zero unresolved Reality/UMA disputes over the last quarter. (zodiac.wiki)

Governance mechanics that are winning in 2025

Mid-vote override (OpenZeppelin): reduces “I disagree with my delegate” churn; add by default in new Governor deployments. (openzeppelin.com)
Approval voting where you must pick multiple winners (e.g., Optimism Seasons). It’s live at scale and understood by users. (optimism.grant3.co)
Smart‑account friendly flows: ERC‑7579 modular smart accounts and ERC‑4337 support are landing in mainstream libraries, paving the way for session keys, gas sponsorship, and richer permissioning in governance UIs. (ercs.ethereum.org)
Cross‑chain messaging standardization (ERC‑7786 + Axelar adapters in OZ community contracts) signals an incoming wave of safer cross‑chain governance. Plan for it now; don’t hand‑roll bridges. (openzeppelin.com)

Quick compares: SafeSnap vs oSnap (operator view)

Trust model
- SafeSnap: oracle resolution via Reality.eth with bonds and arbitrators. You set bond size, timeout, and cooldown. Good fit when you want explicit, bond‑weighted dispute windows. (docs.snapshot.box)
- oSnap: optimistic oracle where anyone can challenge; UMA bots help automate submission/execution. Lower overhead to operate day‑to‑day; ensure gas per bundle stays within limits. Gitcoin DAO uses it for distributions. (docs.uma.xyz)
Operator tips
- Both: monitor events and publish a “challenge policy”; pre‑announce execution windows; always split complex bundles; simulate.

Brief chain-specific examples with precise details

ENS DAO: gasless on Tally since April 2024 with policy gates (primary name + min 100 ENS voting power, capped 8 votes per 12 months). This yielded free voting without turning the relayer into a spam vector. (discuss.ens.domains)
Gitcoin DAO: moved treasury payments to oSnap in 2024; UMA reported oSnap securing hundreds of millions in treasuries. Impact: faster payouts, fewer signer escalations. (blog.uma.xyz)
Optimism: delegate discovery and filtering shipped June 4, 2025; pair with retro participation rewards so active delegates get recognized (and stay). (vote.optimism.io)
Polkadot OpenGov: use Split/Abstain correctly; explain conviction locks in UI to reduce support tickets. Encourage track‑specific delegation to domain experts. (wiki.polkadot.com)
Solana Realms: ship Civic Pass gating for proposal creation or voting when your DAO needs sybil friction; use Dialect notifications so mobile users don’t miss windows. (docs.realms.today)

Governance UX anti‑patterns to avoid

“Catch‑all” multisig execution without roles: scope with Zodiac Roles, or you’re one fat‑finger away from disaster. (zodiac.wiki)
Unsimulated proposal bundles: simulate on testnet/mainnet‑fork and publish the effect summary; require a second signer to attest the simulation output. (forum.openzeppelin.com)
Voting during major conferences or deployments: you’re asking for apathy. See Arbitrum’s monthly swings; schedule around events. (forum.arbitrum.foundation)
One‑provider cross‑chain assumptions: governance bridges evolve; Uniswap’s committee ultimately endorsed multiple providers under review. Keep optionality. (theblock.co)

The 7Block Labs checklist (cut and ship)

Venue plan: which proposals on Snapshot (+ SafeSnap/oSnap) vs Governor.
Delegate UX: banners, filters, profiles; mid‑vote override in contracts. (openzeppelin.com)
Gasless policy: relayer budget + eligibility rules; UI affordances. (discuss.ens.domains)
Identity gates: Human Passport model score + rotating stamps; publish reweighting cadence. (outposts.io)
Execution guardrails: Roles + Delay + Timelock; markProposalInvalid playbook. (zodiac.wiki)
Monitoring: Defender (or open-source Monitor) alerts on propose/queue/execute; incident runbooks. (docs.openzeppelin.com)
Calendar discipline: do-not-vote weeks around major events; minimum review windows; clear, consistent proposal templates referencing the exact function calls that will execute. (forum.arbitrum.foundation)

Final thought

Governance UX stops being a liability when execution is predictable, voting is nearly frictionless, and protections are visible. Start with the smallest changes that matter—gasless for key votes, sane delegation UX, trustless execution—and add guardrails you hope to never use. If you want a partner to implement this stack end‑to‑end, 7Block Labs ships these architectures across EVM, Solana, Polkadot, and Cosmos with measurable participation and safety KPIs.