diff --git a/local-cluster/src/local_cluster.rs b/local-cluster/src/local_cluster.rs
index 2fb9f2efd7a..bc3e0777633 100644
--- a/local-cluster/src/local_cluster.rs
+++ b/local-cluster/src/local_cluster.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use {
         integration_tests::{ValidatorKeys, DEFAULT_NODE_STAKE},
         validator_configs::*,
     },
-    agave_feature_set::FeatureSet,
+    agave_feature_set::{bls_pubkey_management_in_vote_account, vote_state_v4, FeatureSet},
     agave_snapshots::{paths::BANK_SNAPSHOTS_DIR, snapshot_config::SnapshotConfig},
     agave_votor_messages::migration::GENESIS_CERTIFICATE_ACCOUNT,
     itertools::izip,
@@ -55,7 +55,10 @@ use {
     solana_transaction_error::TransportError,
     solana_vote_program::{
         vote_instruction,
-        vote_state::{self, VoteInit, VoteStateV4},
+        vote_state::{
+            self, create_bls_pubkey_and_proof_of_possession, VoteAuthorize, VoteInit, VoteStateV4,
+            VoterWithBLSArgs,
+        },
     },
     std::{
         collections::HashMap,
@@ -1058,6 +1061,20 @@ impl LocalCluster {
             .expect("client transfer should succeed");
     }
 
+    fn is_feature_active(rpc_client: &RpcClient, feature_id: &Pubkey) -> bool {
+        rpc_client
+            .get_account_with_commitment(feature_id, CommitmentConfig::processed())
+            .ok()
+            .and_then(|r| r.value)
+            .and_then(|account| solana_feature_gate_interface::from_account(&account))
+            .is_some_and(|feature| feature.activated_at.is_some())
+    }
+
+    fn is_bls_pubkey_feature_enabled(rpc_client: &RpcClient) -> bool {
+        Self::is_feature_active(rpc_client, &bls_pubkey_management_in_vote_account::id())
+            && Self::is_feature_active(rpc_client, &vote_state_v4::id())
+    }
+
     fn setup_vote_and_stake_accounts(
         client: &QuicTpuClient,
         vote_account: &Keypair,
@@ -1079,8 +1096,8 @@ impl LocalCluster {
             .unwrap_or(0)
             == 0
         {
-            // 1) Create vote account
-            let instructions = vote_instruction::create_account_with_config(
+            // 1) Create vote account — always use V1 InitializeAccount
+            let mut instructions = vote_instruction::create_account_with_config(
                 &from_account.pubkey(),
                 &vote_account_pubkey,
                 &VoteInit {
@@ -1095,6 +1112,21 @@ impl LocalCluster {
                     ..vote_instruction::CreateVoteAccountConfig::default()
                 },
             );
+
+            // If BLS feature is active, append an authorize instruction to set the BLS key
+            if Self::is_bls_pubkey_feature_enabled(client.rpc_client()) {
+                let (bls_pubkey, bls_proof_of_possession) =
+                    create_bls_pubkey_and_proof_of_possession(&vote_account_pubkey);
+                instructions.push(vote_instruction::authorize(
+                    &vote_account_pubkey,
+                    &vote_account_pubkey,
+                    &vote_account_pubkey,
+                    VoteAuthorize::VoterWithBLS(VoterWithBLSArgs {
+                        bls_pubkey,
+                        bls_proof_of_possession,
+                    }),
+                ));
+            }
             let message = Message::new(&instructions, Some(&from_account.pubkey()));
             let mut transaction = Transaction::new(
                 &[from_account.as_ref(), vote_account],
diff --git a/runtime/src/bank/tests.rs b/runtime/src/bank/tests.rs
index 9cb2b99cbc8..9cbc172057f 100644
--- a/runtime/src/bank/tests.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/bank/tests.rs
@@ -118,8 +118,9 @@ use {
     solana_vote_program::{
         vote_instruction,
         vote_state::{
-            self, create_v4_account_with_authorized, BlockTimestamp, VoteAuthorize, VoteInit,
-            VoteStateV4, VoteStateVersions, MAX_LOCKOUT_HISTORY,
+            self, create_bls_pubkey_and_proof_of_possession, create_v4_account_with_authorized,
+            BlockTimestamp, VoteAuthorize, VoteInit, VoteStateV4, VoteStateVersions,
+            VoterWithBLSArgs, MAX_LOCKOUT_HISTORY,
         },
     },
     spl_generic_token::token,
@@ -10085,12 +10086,17 @@ fn test_rent_state_changes_sysvars() {
     let (bank, _bank_forks) = Bank::new_with_bank_forks_for_tests(&genesis_config);
 
     // Ensure transactions with sysvars succeed, even though sysvars appear RentPaying by balance
+    let (bls_pubkey, bls_proof_of_possession) =
+        create_bls_pubkey_and_proof_of_possession(&validator_vote_account_pubkey);
     let tx = Transaction::new_signed_with_payer(
         &[vote_instruction::authorize(
             &validator_vote_account_pubkey,
             &validator_voting_keypair.pubkey(),
             &Pubkey::new_unique(),
-            VoteAuthorize::Voter,
+            VoteAuthorize::VoterWithBLS(VoterWithBLSArgs {
+                bls_pubkey,
+                bls_proof_of_possession,
+            }),
         )],
         Some(&mint_keypair.pubkey()),
         &[&mint_keypair, &validator_voting_keypair],
diff --git a/runtime/src/genesis_utils.rs b/runtime/src/genesis_utils.rs
index 2ebf9c2b0bb..0756752f4fe 100644
--- a/runtime/src/genesis_utils.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/genesis_utils.rs
@@ -335,9 +335,6 @@ fn do_activate_all_features<const IS_ALPENGLOW: bool>(genesis_config: &mut Genes
     // Activate all features at genesis in development mode
     for feature_id in FeatureSet::default().inactive() {
         if (IS_ALPENGLOW || *feature_id != agave_feature_set::alpenglow::id())
-            // Skip bls_pubkey_management_in_vote_account feature activation until cli change is in place
-            && *feature_id
-                != agave_feature_set::bls_pubkey_management_in_vote_account::id()
             // TODO: Remove me once SIMD-0464 is no longer hard-coded as `false` in
             // `FeatureSet::runtime_features` and omitted from `FEATURE_NAMES` in
             // agave-feature-set.
@@ -516,10 +513,6 @@ pub fn create_genesis_config_with_leader_ex(
         if *feature_id == agave_feature_set::alpenglow::id() {
             continue;
         }
-        // Skip bls_pubkey_management_in_vote_account feature activation until cli change is in place
-        if *feature_id == agave_feature_set::bls_pubkey_management_in_vote_account::id() {
-            continue;
-        }
         // TODO: Remove me once SIMD-0464 is no longer hard-coded as `false` in
         // `FeatureSet::runtime_features` and omitted from `FEATURE_NAMES` in
         // agave-feature-set.