Almost every public Minecraft server asks its players to vote on server lists, and many hand out in-game rewards in return. Voting takes less than a minute, but small mistakes, mostly in the nickname, are the reason rewards go missing. This guide explains why servers care about votes, how voting works on MCServerScout, and how the reward actually gets from the website into your game.
Why servers ask for votes
Server lists rank servers, and votes are one of the main signals. On MCServerScout, servers that are online come first, then the order is set by the number of votes, with the number of players online breaking ties. A server with more votes sits higher on the list, gets seen by more new players, and has a better chance of growing.
For a small or new server, that visibility matters more than almost anything else it can do. That is why owners remind players to vote, put vote links in their Discord and on their website, and offer something in return. Voting is the cheapest way you have to support a server you enjoy, and it costs nothing.
How voting works on MCServerScout
- Open the server's page. Find the server on the server list or follow the vote link the server gives you, and use the vote form on its page.
- Enter your in-game nickname. Type the name you play under, exactly as it appears in game. This is what lets the server find your vote and reward you.
- Or vote without a nickname. If you only want to support the server and do not need a reward, tick the option to vote without a nickname. The vote still counts toward the ranking.
- Complete the check and submit. The form uses reCAPTCHA to keep automated votes out. Once your vote is saved you will see a confirmation, and it shows up in the server's vote count within about 15 minutes.
A few rules apply to everyone:
- One vote per day. Each player gets one vote per day on MCServerScout in total, not one per server, so choose the server you want to support. The day resets at midnight UTC, which may not be midnight where you live.
- A daily cap per server. Each server can receive a limited number of votes per day (currently 30). If a server has reached it, the form tells you so, and you can vote again for it the next day.
- A valid nickname. Nicknames must be 3 to 16 characters made of letters, digits and underscores, the same rules Minecraft Java Edition uses. A single dot at the start is also accepted, for Bedrock players on crossplay servers (more on that below).
How rewards reach you in game
MCServerScout does not give out rewards. It records your vote, and the server decides what, if anything, you get for it. The rewards are the server's own: in-game money, crate keys, items, experience, temporary perks or points toward ranks. The server's description, website or Discord usually lists them.
The connection between the vote and the reward works through a vote API. Each server on MCServerScout has an endpoint that returns its recent votes with the nickname and the time each vote was cast. A plugin or script on the server checks that list regularly, matches the nicknames to players, and runs the reward commands. Server owners can read the details in the vote API documentation.
A few things follow from how this works:
- Votes without a nickname never earn a reward. The API only returns votes that have a nickname, because there is nobody to reward otherwise.
- The reward depends on the server's setup. Some servers deliver rewards the next time their plugin checks, others only when you are online, and some ask you to claim them with a command. If you are unsure, ask the staff how their system works.
- There can be a delay. The server's plugin checks on its own schedule. Waiting a few minutes before asking staff about a missing reward is reasonable.
- The server can see your nickname and vote time, and nothing more. The API does not expose your IP address or anything else about you.
Tips so the reward arrives
Spell your nickname exactly
The plugin matches the nickname letter for letter. A typo, an extra character or a missing underscore means the vote is recorded for someone else, or for nobody. Check uppercase and lowercase too: many plugins ignore case, but not all do, so it is safest to type it exactly as it appears in game. If you have changed your Minecraft name recently, use the current one.
Java and Bedrock nicknames on crossplay servers
Crossplay servers let Bedrock players join a Java server through a bridge, most often Geyser with Floodgate. To keep Bedrock names from clashing with Java names, Floodgate usually adds a prefix to them. The default prefix is a dot, so a Bedrock player called Steve appears on the server as .Steve. Some servers change the prefix to another character or remove it.
If you play from Bedrock on a crossplay server, look at how your name appears in the tab list or chat on that server and enter it in the vote form the same way, including the dot. Spaces in Bedrock gamertags are usually replaced with underscores on the server side; again, copy the name exactly as the server shows it. If the server uses a prefix other than a dot, ask the staff which name to use for voting.
Vote from the server's own link
Servers often list several vote sites. Using the link from the server's website or Discord makes sure you land on the right server's page, not one with a similar name.
Make it a habit
Because the limit resets daily, regular players get the most out of voting. Many servers track vote streaks or monthly top voters and give extra rewards for them. A daily reminder on your phone works better than relying on memory.
What not to do
Rewards are tempting, and every server list sees attempts to game them. These are the ones that get players banned.
- Vote bots and scripts. Automated voting is not allowed on MCServerScout or on most servers. The reCAPTCHA check, the daily limit and the per-server cap exist to stop it.
- Multiple accounts or nicknames. Voting under friends' names, alternate accounts or made-up names to collect extra rewards is treated as abuse by most servers. Staff can see every nickname and timestamp in the API, so patterns are easy to spot.
- Buying or trading votes. Paying other people to vote, or trading in-game items for votes, breaks the rules of most servers and can get both sides punished.
- Getting around the daily limit. Switching networks, VPNs or devices to vote again the same day is the same thing as a vote bot from the server's point of view.
The consequences are usually the server's own: lost rewards, reset balances or a ban.
If your reward did not arrive
- Wait 15 to 30 minutes. Both the vote count and the server's plugin update on a schedule.
- Check that you entered the right nickname, including the prefix if you play from Bedrock.
- Log in to the server if you were offline, and check whether it uses a claim command.
- Ask the server staff, with the time you voted and the nickname you used. They can find your vote in the API.
If the vote itself was rejected, the form says why: you have already voted today, the server has reached its daily limit, or the nickname is not valid. Common questions about voting and the list are also answered in the FAQ.
For server owners
If you run a server and want players to vote for it here, add your server and connect a reward plugin or script to the vote API. Tell players exactly which nickname format to use, especially on crossplay servers, and list your rewards in the description so voters know what to expect.