diff --git a/automation/workflow.py b/automation/workflow.py
index ace20e6..0a80275 100644
--- a/automation/workflow.py
+++ b/automation/workflow.py
@@ -77,41 +77,45 @@ def parse_votes(path: Path) -> Mapping[str, str]:
         return {}
 
     for idx, line in enumerate(text.splitlines()):
-        if VOTE_TOKEN not in line.lower():
-            continue
+        participant_name, remaining_line = _extract_participant(line)
+        
+        # Now, search for "VOTE:" in the remaining_line
+        lower_remaining_line = remaining_line.lower()
+        marker_idx = lower_remaining_line.rfind(VOTE_TOKEN)
+        
+        if marker_idx == -1:
+            continue # No VOTE_TOKEN found in this part of the line
 
-        participant = _extract_participant(line) or f"line-{idx}"
-        vote_value = _extract_vote_value(line)
+        # Extract the part after VOTE_TOKEN and pass to _extract_vote_value
+        vote_string_candidate = remaining_line[marker_idx + len(VOTE_TOKEN):].strip()
+        
+        vote_value = _extract_vote_value(vote_string_candidate)
+        
         if vote_value:
-            latest_per_participant[participant] = vote_value
+            # Determine the participant key
+            participant_key = participant_name if participant_name else f"line-{idx}"
+            latest_per_participant[participant_key] = vote_value
     return latest_per_participant
 
 
-def _extract_participant(line: str) -> str | None:
+def _extract_participant(line: str) -> tuple[str | None, str]:
     stripped = line.strip()
     if not stripped:
-        return None
+        return None, line
     if stripped[0] in "-*":
         parts = stripped[1:].split(":", 1)
-        if parts:
+        if len(parts) == 2:
             candidate = parts[0].strip()
             if candidate:
-                return candidate
+                return candidate, parts[1].strip()
+    return None, line
+
+
+def _extract_vote_value(vote_string: str) -> str | None:
+    potential_vote = vote_string.strip().upper()
+    if potential_vote in ("READY", "CHANGES", "REJECT"):
+        return potential_vote
     return None
-
-
-def _extract_vote_value(line: str) -> str | None:
-    lower = line.lower()
-    marker_idx = lower.find(VOTE_TOKEN)
-    if marker_idx == -1:
-        return None
-    after = line[marker_idx + len(VOTE_TOKEN):].strip()
-    if not after:
-        return None
-    token = after.split()[0]
-    return token.upper()
-
-
 def print_vote_summary(path: Path, votes: Mapping[str, str]) -> None:
     rel = path.as_posix()
     print(f"[workflow] {rel}")
diff --git a/src/cascadingdev/setup_project.py b/src/cascadingdev/setup_project.py
index eca3ad2..8c2baa8 100644
--- a/src/cascadingdev/setup_project.py
+++ b/src/cascadingdev/setup_project.py
@@ -378,6 +378,10 @@ def copy_install_assets_to_target(target: Path):
     # Example: copy starter automation folder if provided in installer
     if (INSTALL_ROOT / "automation").exists():
         shutil.copytree(INSTALL_ROOT / "automation", target / "automation", dirs_exist_ok=True)
+        # Make workflow.py executable so pre-commit hook can run it
+        workflow_py = target / "automation" / "workflow.py"
+        if workflow_py.exists():
+            workflow_py.chmod(0o755)
 
 
 def first_commit(target: Path):