case MSG_Public:			if (!p) break;
		{
			if (started && voting) // only check during voting phase
			{
				if ((p->team == 0) || (p->team == 1)) // only players on team 0/1 can vote
				{
					if (get_tag(p, VOTED) == 0) // only can vote once, otherwise vote is changed
					{
						if (isNumeric(msg))
						{
							int vote = atoi(msg);

							if ((vote < 1) || (vote > 3)) // invalid input
								sendPrivate(p, "You must vote between 1-3 lives.");
							else // if it's between 1-5
							{
								// globals to be called only in voting phase (v1-v3)
								sendPrivate(p, "You have voted for " + (String)msg + " lives.");
								set_tag(p, VOTED, 1); // store that they voted once
								set_tag(p, LASTVOTE, vote); // store their vote in case they wish to change it

								if (vote == 1)
									++v1;
								else if (vote == 2)
									++v2;
								else if (vote == 3)
									++v3;
							}
						}
						else
							sendPrivate(p, "You must vote between 1-3 lives.");
					}
					else
					{
						if (isNumeric(msg))
						{
							int vote = atoi(msg);

							if ((vote < 1) || (vote > 3)) // invalid input
								sendPrivate(p, "You must vote between 1-3 lives.");
							else // if it's between 1-3
							{
								if ((get_tag(p, LASTVOTE) == vote))
									sendPrivate(p, "You have already voted for " + (String)msg + " lives.");
								else
								{
									sendPrivate(p, "You have changed your vote to " + (String)msg + " lives.");

									if (get_tag(p, LASTVOTE) == 1) // deduct a count from his last vote
										--v1;
									else if (get_tag(p, LASTVOTE) == 2)
										--v2;
									else if (get_tag(p, LASTVOTE) == 3)
										--v3;

									if (vote == 1)
										++v1;
									else if (vote == 2)
										++v2;
									else if (vote == 3)
										++v3;
								}
							}
						}
						else
							sendPrivate(p, "You must vote between 1-3 lives.");
					}
				}
				else
					sendPrivate(p, "You must be in a ship to cast a vote!");
			}
		}

if ((countdown[5] == 0) && (started)) // voting ends
		{
			if (voting)
			{
				voting = false;
				int lives = 0;

				if ((v1 >= v2) && (v1 >= v3))
					lives = 1;
				else if ((v2 >= v1) && (v2 >= v3))
					lives = 2;
				else if ((v3 >= v1) && (v3 >= v2))
					lives = 3;
				else if ((v1 == 0) || (v2 == 0) || (v3 == 0))
					lives = 1;

				String lives_s;
				_itoa(lives, lives_s, 10);
				game_lives = lives;

				if (lives > 1)
					sendPublic(2, "*arena [VOTE ENDED] We will be playing with " + (String)lives_s.msg + " lives!");
				else if (lives == 1)
					sendPublic(2, "*arena [VOTE ENDED] We will be playing with 1 life (SUDDEN DEATH).");

				objOn(lives); // toggle graphical HUD
				countdown[1] = 5; // start game
				sendPublic("*lockarena");
			}
		}