# Getting started

Welcome to Votare. This guide walks you through joining your organization, signing in, and getting your account ready so you can start finding your way around.

## Join your organization

You join a Votare organization one of two ways:

- **Email invitation** — an admin sends an invite to your email address. Open it and follow the link to accept.
- **Invite link or code** — someone shares a link (or a short code) that lets you join the organization directly.

Either way, once you accept, you become a member and your organization's workspace opens up to you.

## Sign in

Votare has no password to remember. To sign in, enter your email address and you'll receive one of the following:

- A **magic link** you click to sign in, or
- A **one-time code** you type in to confirm it's you.

Because sign-in is tied to your email, use the same address your invitation was sent to. If you don't see the email, check your spam folder and make sure the address is correct.

## Set up your profile

After you're in, take a minute to set up your profile in account **Settings**:

1. Add your **name** so teammates recognize you.
2. Upload an **avatar** (an optional profile picture).
3. Choose your **timezone** so dates, times, and any scheduled emails line up with your day.
4. Review your **notification preferences** and turn on the updates you want to receive.

You can come back and change any of these at any time. For more on the email side of things, see [Notifications & preferences](/docs/member/notifications).

## Find your way around

Use the **left sidebar** to move between the different areas of your organization. What you see there isn't fixed — it depends on:

- **What your organization has turned on.** Organizations enable different features, so some sections may or may not appear for you.
- **Your role.** Members and admins see different options; admin-only areas won't show up for regular members.

If a teammate mentions a section you can't find, it may simply be switched off for your organization or reserved for a different role. Ask an admin if you think you're missing something you should have.

## What's next

Once you're set up, here are good places to explore:

- [Projects & ideas](/docs/member/projects) — browse work, propose ideas, and post updates.
- [Your planner & allocations](/docs/member/planner) — see what you're scheduled to work on and when.
- [Tracking your time](/docs/member/time-tracker) — log work and breaks, if it's enabled for you.

## Related

- [Notifications & preferences](/docs/member/notifications)
- [Projects & ideas](/docs/member/projects)
- [Your planner & allocations](/docs/member/planner)