A computing device having interface, memory, and processing module, transmits write requests for a set of encoded data slices to storage units (SUs) of a dispersed storage network (DSN) based on a write request process and to receive proposal records for a subset of the set of encoded data slices from at least some of the SUs. The computing device interprets the proposal records to determine whether it or any another computing device has a threshold number of its respective write requests in a first priority position in the ordered list of pending write requests. When no computing device has the threshold number, the computing device determines whether any computing device can be blacklisted and/or eliminated and whether a winner of the ballot can be determined after such determination. When a winner is determined, the computing device transmits finalize commands to the storage units.