diff --git a/src/App.css b/src/App.css
index df4a2698..fb77e43d 100644
--- a/src/App.css
+++ b/src/App.css
@@ -5356,6 +5356,20 @@ body.has-player .chat-fab {
   color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.78);
 }
 
+/* The resting vote button is transparent and inks itself in --color-text,
+   which in a light palette (or a muted dark one) sinks into the black scrim.
+   Over an image it takes the overlay's own white-on-glass treatment; the
+   voted state keeps its solid accent fill, which already reads. */
+.journal-card--image .journal-card-overlay .vote-btn:not(.vote-btn--active) {
+  color: #fff;
+  border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.4);
+  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.35);
+}
+.journal-card--image .journal-card-overlay .vote-btn:not(.vote-btn--active):hover:not(:disabled) {
+  color: var(--color-accent);
+  border-color: var(--color-accent);
+}
+
 .journal-card--image .journal-card-comment {
   font-size: var(--text-sm);
   line-height: 1.4;