diff --git a/core/quorum/block_voting.go b/core/quorum/block_voting.go
index badd637e1..ea30c467b 100755
--- a/core/quorum/block_voting.go
+++ b/core/quorum/block_voting.go
@@ -244,15 +244,19 @@ func (bv *BlockVoting) run(strat BlockMakerStrategy) {
 				case core.TxPreEvent: // tx entered pool, apply to pending state
 					bv.applyTransaction(e.Tx)
 				case Vote:
-					txHash, err := bv.vote(e.Number, e.Hash)
-					if err == nil && e.TxHash != nil {
-						e.TxHash <- txHash
-					} else if err != nil && e.Err != nil {
-						e.Err <- err
-					} else if err != nil {
-						if glog.V(logger.Debug) {
-							glog.Errorf("Unable to vote: %v", err)
+					if bv.synced {
+						txHash, err := bv.vote(e.Number, e.Hash)
+						if err == nil && e.TxHash != nil {
+							e.TxHash <- txHash
+						} else if err != nil && e.Err != nil {
+							e.Err <- err
+						} else if err != nil {
+							if glog.V(logger.Debug) {
+								glog.Errorf("Unable to vote: %v", err)
+							}
 						}
+					} else {
+						e.Err <- fmt.Errorf("Node not synced")
 					}
 				case CreateBlock:
 					block, err := bv.createBlock()
@@ -367,6 +371,10 @@ func (bv *BlockVoting) vote(height *big.Int, hash common.Hash) (common.Hash, err
 		glog.Infof("vote for %s on height %d", hash.Hex(), height)
 	}
 
+	nonce := bv.txpool.Nonce(bv.voteSession.TransactOpts.From)
+	bv.voteSession.TransactOpts.Nonce = new(big.Int).SetUint64(nonce)
+	defer func() { bv.voteSession.TransactOpts.Nonce = nil }()
+
 	tx, err := bv.voteSession.Vote(height, hash)
 	if err != nil {
 		return common.Hash{}, err
diff --git a/core/tx_pool.go b/core/tx_pool.go
index 2535609c7..b294b0e28 100644
--- a/core/tx_pool.go
+++ b/core/tx_pool.go
@@ -129,6 +129,17 @@ func (pool *TxPool) eventLoop() {
 	}
 }
 
+// Nonce returns the nonce for the given addr from the pending state.
+// Can only be used for local transactions.
+func (pool *TxPool) Nonce(addr common.Address) uint64 {
+	pool.mu.Lock()
+	defer pool.mu.Unlock()
+	if pool.pendingState == nil {
+		pool.resetState()
+	}
+	return pool.pendingState.GetNonce(addr)
+}
+
 func (pool *TxPool) resetState() {
 	currentState, _, err := pool.currentState()
 	if err != nil {