diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/subsystems.dm b/code/__DEFINES/subsystems.dm
index 9998aedbbfd..720515a39d7 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/subsystems.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/subsystems.dm
@@ -169,9 +169,10 @@
 #define INIT_ORDER_AIR -1
 #define INIT_ORDER_PERSISTENCE -2
 #define INIT_ORDER_PERSISTENT_PAINTINGS -3 // Assets relies on this
-#define INIT_ORDER_ASSETS -4
-#define INIT_ORDER_ICON_SMOOTHING -5
-#define INIT_ORDER_OVERLAY -6
+#define INIT_ORDER_VOTE -4 // Needs to be after persistence so that recent maps are not loaded.
+#define INIT_ORDER_ASSETS -5
+#define INIT_ORDER_ICON_SMOOTHING -6
+#define INIT_ORDER_OVERLAY -7
 #define INIT_ORDER_XKEYSCORE -10
 #define INIT_ORDER_STICKY_BAN -10
 #define INIT_ORDER_LIGHTING -20
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/vote.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/vote.dm
index c27135841e3..15a80fc0dbe 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/vote.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/vote.dm
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(vote)
 	name = "Vote"
 	wait = 1 SECONDS
 	flags = SS_KEEP_TIMING
+	init_order = INIT_ORDER_VOTE
 	runlevels = RUNLEVEL_LOBBY | RUNLEVELS_DEFAULT
 
 	/// A list of all generated action buttons