Thanks, @paradiseplanet I did not know you could ask the same sims more than once - I will certainly try that. As for the tips - my sim just got turned down by his granddaughter and he was in confident mood. His charisma is maxed out and he and his granddaughter are friends (not yet good friends). Sometimes when he does not get the vote he asks for a large bribe and gets it! He always promotes his policies first and even sometimes uses flattery with some success. He even argues from the right and once views match he proceeds to ask for a vote. Even then most times it is unsuccessful. So it is very random I think.