diff --git a/pkg/core/blockchain.go b/pkg/core/blockchain.go
index 43d716114..0c1ad2495 100644
--- a/pkg/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/pkg/core/blockchain.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"math"
 	"math/big"
 	"sort"
-	"strconv"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
@@ -437,7 +436,7 @@ func (bc *Blockchain) storeBlock(block *block.Block) error {
 					if err = cache.PutSpentCoinState(input.PrevHash, spentCoin); err != nil {
 						return err
 					}
-					if err = processTXWithValidatorsSubtract(account, cache, prevTXOutput.Amount); err != nil {
+					if err = processTXWithValidatorsSubtract(&prevTXOutput, account, cache); err != nil {
 						return err
 					}
 				}
@@ -639,28 +638,27 @@ func processOutputs(tx *transaction.Transaction, dao *cachedDao) error {
 
 func processTXWithValidatorsAdd(output *transaction.Output, account *state.Account, dao *cachedDao) error {
 	if output.AssetID.Equals(governingTokenTX().Hash()) && len(account.Votes) > 0 {
-		for _, vote := range account.Votes {
-			validatorState, err := dao.GetValidatorStateOrNew(vote)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-			validatorState.Votes += output.Amount
-			if err = dao.PutValidatorState(validatorState); err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-		}
+		return modAccountVotes(account, dao, output.Amount)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
-func processTXWithValidatorsSubtract(account *state.Account, dao *cachedDao, toSubtract util.Fixed8) error {
+func processTXWithValidatorsSubtract(output *transaction.Output, account *state.Account, dao *cachedDao) error {
+	if output.AssetID.Equals(governingTokenTX().Hash()) && len(account.Votes) > 0 {
+		return modAccountVotes(account, dao, -output.Amount)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// modAccountVotes adds given value to given account voted validators.
+func modAccountVotes(account *state.Account, dao *cachedDao, value util.Fixed8) error {
 	for _, vote := range account.Votes {
 		validator, err := dao.GetValidatorStateOrNew(vote)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		validator.Votes -= toSubtract
-		if !validator.RegisteredAndHasVotes() {
+		validator.Votes += value
+		if validator.UnregisteredAndHasNoVotes() {
 			if err := dao.DeleteValidatorState(validator); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -670,6 +668,17 @@ func processTXWithValidatorsSubtract(account *state.Account, dao *cachedDao, toS
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	if len(account.Votes) > 0 {
+		vc, err := dao.GetValidatorsCount()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		vc[len(account.Votes)-1] += value
+		err = dao.PutValidatorsCount(vc)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -684,12 +693,11 @@ func processValidatorStateDescriptor(descriptor *transaction.StateDescriptor, da
 		return err
 	}
 	if descriptor.Field == "Registered" {
-		isRegistered, err := strconv.ParseBool(string(descriptor.Value))
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
+		if len(descriptor.Value) == 1 {
+			validatorState.Registered = descriptor.Value[0] != 0
+			return dao.PutValidatorState(validatorState)
 		}
-		validatorState.Registered = isRegistered
-		return dao.PutValidatorState(validatorState)
+		return errors.New("bad descriptor value")
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -706,7 +714,7 @@ func processAccountStateDescriptor(descriptor *transaction.StateDescriptor, dao
 
 	if descriptor.Field == "Votes" {
 		balance := account.GetBalanceValues()[governingTokenTX().Hash()]
-		if err = processTXWithValidatorsSubtract(account, dao, balance); err != nil {
+		if err = modAccountVotes(account, dao, -balance); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 
@@ -715,18 +723,34 @@ func processAccountStateDescriptor(descriptor *transaction.StateDescriptor, dao
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		if votes.Len() != len(account.Votes) {
+		if len(votes) > state.MaxValidatorsVoted {
+			return errors.New("voting candidate limit exceeded")
+		}
+		if len(votes) > 0 {
 			account.Votes = votes
-			for _, vote := range votes {
-				validator, err := dao.GetValidatorStateOrNew(vote)
+			for _, vote := range account.Votes {
+				validatorState, err := dao.GetValidatorStateOrNew(vote)
 				if err != nil {
 					return err
 				}
-				if err := dao.PutValidatorState(validator); err != nil {
+				validatorState.Votes += balance
+				if err = dao.PutValidatorState(validatorState); err != nil {
 					return err
 				}
 			}
+			vc, err := dao.GetValidatorsCount()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			vc[len(account.Votes)-1] += balance
+			err = dao.PutValidatorsCount(vc)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		} else {
+			account.Votes = nil
 		}
+		return dao.PutAccountState(account)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -1322,7 +1346,7 @@ func (bc *Blockchain) GetValidators(txes ...*transaction.Transaction) ([]*keys.P
 					}
 
 					// process account state votes: if there are any -> validators will be updated.
-					if err = processTXWithValidatorsSubtract(accountState, cache, prevOutput.Amount); err != nil {
+					if err = processTXWithValidatorsSubtract(&prevOutput, accountState, cache); err != nil {
 						return nil, err
 					}
 					delete(accountState.Balances, prevOutput.AssetID)
@@ -1346,8 +1370,24 @@ func (bc *Blockchain) GetValidators(txes ...*transaction.Transaction) ([]*keys.P
 	}
 
 	validators := cache.GetValidators()
+	sort.Slice(validators, func(i, j int) bool {
+		// Unregistered validators go to the end of the list.
+		if validators[i].Registered != validators[j].Registered {
+			return validators[i].Registered
+		}
+		// The most-voted validators should end up in the front of the list.
+		if validators[i].Votes != validators[j].Votes {
+			return validators[i].Votes > validators[j].Votes
+		}
+		// Ties are broken with public keys.
+		return validators[i].PublicKey.Cmp(validators[j].PublicKey) == -1
+	})
 
-	count := state.GetValidatorsWeightedAverage(validators)
+	validatorsCount, err := cache.GetValidatorsCount()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	count := validatorsCount.GetWeightedAverage()
 	standByValidators, err := bc.GetStandByValidators()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -1363,14 +1403,15 @@ func (bc *Blockchain) GetValidators(txes ...*transaction.Transaction) ([]*keys.P
 			pubKeys = append(pubKeys, validator.PublicKey)
 		}
 	}
-	sort.Sort(sort.Reverse(pubKeys))
 	if pubKeys.Len() >= count {
 		return pubKeys[:count], nil
 	}
 
 	result := pubKeys.Unique()
 	for i := 0; i < uniqueSBValidators.Len() && result.Len() < count; i++ {
-		result = append(result, uniqueSBValidators[i])
+		if !result.Contains(uniqueSBValidators[i]) {
+			result = append(result, uniqueSBValidators[i])
+		}
 	}
 	return result, nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/core/dao.go b/pkg/core/dao.go
index 4111fba66..1ff5d5e5e 100644
--- a/pkg/core/dao.go
+++ b/pkg/core/dao.go
@@ -266,6 +266,24 @@ func (dao *dao) DeleteValidatorState(vs *state.Validator) error {
 	return dao.store.Delete(key)
 }
 
+// GetValidatorsCount returns current ValidatorsCount or new one if there is none
+// in the DB.
+func (dao *dao) GetValidatorsCount() (*state.ValidatorsCount, error) {
+	vc := &state.ValidatorsCount{}
+	key := []byte{byte(storage.IXValidatorsCount)}
+	err := dao.GetAndDecode(vc, key)
+	if err != nil && err != storage.ErrKeyNotFound {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return vc, nil
+}
+
+// PutValidatorsCount put given ValidatorsCount in the store.
+func (dao *dao) PutValidatorsCount(vc *state.ValidatorsCount) error {
+	key := []byte{byte(storage.IXValidatorsCount)}
+	return dao.Put(vc, key)
+}
+
 // -- end validator.
 
 // -- start notification event.
diff --git a/pkg/core/state/validator.go b/pkg/core/state/validator.go
index bd3414a1f..0fdb73c47 100644
--- a/pkg/core/state/validator.go
+++ b/pkg/core/state/validator.go
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ import (
 	"github.com/CityOfZion/neo-go/pkg/util"
 )
 
+// MaxValidatorsVoted limits the number of validators that one can vote for.
+const MaxValidatorsVoted = 1024
+
 // Validator holds the state of a validator.
 type Validator struct {
 	PublicKey  *keys.PublicKey
@@ -13,11 +16,20 @@ type Validator struct {
 	Votes      util.Fixed8
 }
 
+// ValidatorsCount represents votes with particular number of consensus nodes
+// for this number to be changeable by the voting system.
+type ValidatorsCount [MaxValidatorsVoted]util.Fixed8
+
 // RegisteredAndHasVotes returns true or false whether Validator is registered and has votes.
 func (vs *Validator) RegisteredAndHasVotes() bool {
 	return vs.Registered && vs.Votes > util.Fixed8(0)
 }
 
+// UnregisteredAndHasNoVotes returns true when Validator is not registered and has no votes.
+func (vs *Validator) UnregisteredAndHasNoVotes() bool {
+	return !vs.Registered && vs.Votes == 0
+}
+
 // EncodeBinary encodes Validator to the given BinWriter.
 func (vs *Validator) EncodeBinary(bw *io.BinWriter) {
 	vs.PublicKey.EncodeBinary(bw)
@@ -33,67 +45,64 @@ func (vs *Validator) DecodeBinary(reader *io.BinReader) {
 	vs.Votes.DecodeBinary(reader)
 }
 
-// GetValidatorsWeightedAverage applies weighted filter based on votes for validator and returns number of validators.
-// Get back to it with further investigation in https://github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/issues/512.
-func GetValidatorsWeightedAverage(validators []*Validator) int {
-	return int(weightedAverage(applyWeightedFilter(validators)))
+// EncodeBinary encodes ValidatorCount to the given BinWriter.
+func (vc *ValidatorsCount) EncodeBinary(w *io.BinWriter) {
+	for i := range vc {
+		vc[i].EncodeBinary(w)
+	}
 }
 
-// applyWeightedFilter is an implementation of the filter for validators votes.
-// C# reference https://github.com/neo-project/neo/blob/41caff115c28d6c7665b2a7ac72967e7ce82e921/neo/Helper.cs#L273
-func applyWeightedFilter(validators []*Validator) map[*Validator]float64 {
-	var validatorsWithVotes []*Validator
-	var amount float64
+// DecodeBinary decodes ValidatorCount from the given BinReader.
+func (vc *ValidatorsCount) DecodeBinary(r *io.BinReader) {
+	for i := range vc {
+		vc[i].DecodeBinary(r)
+	}
+}
 
-	weightedVotes := make(map[*Validator]float64)
-	start := 0.25
-	end := 0.75
-	sum := float64(0)
-	current := float64(0)
+// GetWeightedAverage returns an average count of validators that's been voted
+// for not counting 1/4 of minimum and maximum numbers.
+func (vc *ValidatorsCount) GetWeightedAverage() int {
+	const (
+		lowerThreshold = 0.25
+		upperThreshold = 0.75
+	)
+	var (
+		sumWeight, sumValue, overallSum, slidingSum util.Fixed8
+		slidingRatio                                float64
+	)
 
-	for _, validator := range validators {
-		if validator.Votes > util.Fixed8(0) {
-			validatorsWithVotes = append(validatorsWithVotes, validator)
-			amount += validator.Votes.FloatValue()
-		}
+	for i := range vc {
+		overallSum += vc[i]
 	}
 
-	for _, validator := range validatorsWithVotes {
-		if current >= end {
+	for i := range vc {
+		if slidingRatio >= upperThreshold {
 			break
 		}
-		weight := validator.Votes.FloatValue()
-		sum += weight
-		old := current
-		current = sum / amount
+		weight := vc[i]
+		slidingSum += weight
+		previousRatio := slidingRatio
+		slidingRatio = slidingSum.FloatValue() / overallSum.FloatValue()
 
-		if current <= start {
+		if slidingRatio <= lowerThreshold {
 			continue
 		}
 
-		if old < start {
-			if current > end {
-				weight = (end - start) * amount
+		if previousRatio < lowerThreshold {
+			if slidingRatio > upperThreshold {
+				weight = util.Fixed8FromFloat((upperThreshold - lowerThreshold) * overallSum.FloatValue())
 			} else {
-				weight = (current - start) * amount
+				weight = util.Fixed8FromFloat((slidingRatio - lowerThreshold) * overallSum.FloatValue())
 			}
-		} else if current > end {
-			weight = (end - old) * amount
+		} else if slidingRatio > upperThreshold {
+			weight = util.Fixed8FromFloat((upperThreshold - previousRatio) * overallSum.FloatValue())
 		}
-		weightedVotes[validator] = weight
-	}
-	return weightedVotes
-}
-
-func weightedAverage(weightedVotes map[*Validator]float64) float64 {
-	sumWeight := float64(0)
-	sumValue := float64(0)
-	for vState, weight := range weightedVotes {
 		sumWeight += weight
-		sumValue += vState.Votes.FloatValue() * weight
+		// Votes with N values get stored with N-1 index, thus +1 here.
+		sumValue += util.Fixed8(i+1) * weight
 	}
 	if sumValue == 0 || sumWeight == 0 {
 		return 0
 	}
-	return sumValue / sumWeight
+	return int(sumValue / sumWeight)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/core/transaction/state_descriptor.go b/pkg/core/transaction/state_descriptor.go
index a839d17d2..05f0a7f12 100644
--- a/pkg/core/transaction/state_descriptor.go
+++ b/pkg/core/transaction/state_descriptor.go
@@ -26,14 +26,14 @@ func (s *StateDescriptor) DecodeBinary(r *io.BinReader) {
 	s.Type = DescStateType(r.ReadB())
 
 	s.Key = r.ReadVarBytes()
-	s.Value = r.ReadVarBytes()
 	s.Field = r.ReadString()
+	s.Value = r.ReadVarBytes()
 }
 
 // EncodeBinary implements Serializable interface.
 func (s *StateDescriptor) EncodeBinary(w *io.BinWriter) {
 	w.WriteB(byte(s.Type))
 	w.WriteVarBytes(s.Key)
-	w.WriteVarBytes(s.Value)
 	w.WriteString(s.Field)
+	w.WriteVarBytes(s.Value)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/core/transaction/state_test.go b/pkg/core/transaction/state_test.go
index 0c01406cd..53fb17e7c 100644
--- a/pkg/core/transaction/state_test.go
+++ b/pkg/core/transaction/state_test.go
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ func TestEncodeDecodeState(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(s.Descriptors))
 	descriptor := s.Descriptors[0]
 	assert.Equal(t, "03c089d7122b840a4935234e82e26ae5efd0c2acb627239dc9f207311337b6f2c1", hex.EncodeToString(descriptor.Key))
-	assert.Equal(t, "52656769737465726564", hex.EncodeToString(descriptor.Value))
-	assert.Equal(t, "\x01", descriptor.Field)
+	assert.Equal(t, "Registered", descriptor.Field)
+	assert.Equal(t, []byte{0x01}, descriptor.Value)
 	assert.Equal(t, Validator, descriptor.Type)
 
 	// Encode
diff --git a/pkg/crypto/keys/publickey.go b/pkg/crypto/keys/publickey.go
index 422efadca..b22e2f9f3 100644
--- a/pkg/crypto/keys/publickey.go
+++ b/pkg/crypto/keys/publickey.go
@@ -22,21 +22,11 @@ type PublicKeys []*PublicKey
 func (keys PublicKeys) Len() int      { return len(keys) }
 func (keys PublicKeys) Swap(i, j int) { keys[i], keys[j] = keys[j], keys[i] }
 func (keys PublicKeys) Less(i, j int) bool {
-	if keys[i].X.Cmp(keys[j].X) == -1 {
-		return true
-	}
-	if keys[i].X.Cmp(keys[j].X) == 1 {
-		return false
-	}
-	if keys[i].X.Cmp(keys[j].X) == 0 {
-		return false
-	}
-
-	return keys[i].Y.Cmp(keys[j].Y) == -1
+	return keys[i].Cmp(keys[j]) == -1
 }
 
 // DecodeBytes decodes a PublicKeys from the given slice of bytes.
-func (keys PublicKeys) DecodeBytes(data []byte) error {
+func (keys *PublicKeys) DecodeBytes(data []byte) error {
 	b := io.NewBinReaderFromBuf(data)
 	b.ReadArray(keys)
 	return b.Err
@@ -75,6 +65,15 @@ func (p *PublicKey) Equal(key *PublicKey) bool {
 	return p.X.Cmp(key.X) == 0 && p.Y.Cmp(key.Y) == 0
 }
 
+// Cmp compares two keys.
+func (p *PublicKey) Cmp(key *PublicKey) int {
+	xCmp := p.X.Cmp(key.X)
+	if xCmp != 0 {
+		return xCmp
+	}
+	return p.Y.Cmp(key.Y)
+}
+
 // NewPublicKeyFromString returns a public key created from the
 // given hex string.
 func NewPublicKeyFromString(s string) (*PublicKey, error) {