diff --git a/src/server/routers/round.ts b/src/server/routers/round.ts
index 06ad903..99668f6 100644
--- a/src/server/routers/round.ts
+++ b/src/server/routers/round.ts
@@ -268,7 +268,9 @@ export const roundRouter = router({
 
       if (input.status === 'ACTIVE' && previousRound.status !== 'ACTIVE') {
         if (previousRound.votingStartAt && previousRound.votingStartAt > now) {
-          updateData.votingStartAt = now
+          // Set to 1 minute in the past to ensure voting is immediately open
+          const oneMinuteAgo = new Date(now.getTime() - 60 * 1000)
+          updateData.votingStartAt = oneMinuteAgo
           votingStartAtUpdated = true
         }
       }
diff --git a/src/server/routers/specialAward.ts b/src/server/routers/specialAward.ts
index c2d7665..6628b07 100644
--- a/src/server/routers/specialAward.ts
+++ b/src/server/routers/specialAward.ts
@@ -207,9 +207,11 @@ export const specialAwardRouter = router({
       }
 
       if (input.status === 'VOTING_OPEN' && current.status !== 'VOTING_OPEN') {
-        // If no voting start date, or if it's in the future, set it to now
+        // If no voting start date, or if it's in the future, set it to 1 minute ago
+        // to ensure voting is immediately open (avoids race condition with page render)
         if (!current.votingStartAt || current.votingStartAt > now) {
-          updateData.votingStartAt = now
+          const oneMinuteAgo = new Date(now.getTime() - 60 * 1000)
+          updateData.votingStartAt = oneMinuteAgo
           votingStartAtUpdated = true
         }
       }