diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 12f66a3..51464ba 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 0.5.1
+
+- Teach posts to restore returning participants on open with
+  `pagelike.identity()`, while keeping first-time and signed-out viewers anonymous.
+- Show an existing choice in the vote example before another click, and include
+  a browser check that opening the example writes no contribution.
+- Refresh both distributions from Control's verified public skill snapshot.
+
 ## 0.5.0
 
 - Extract the creator plugin into its own public, MIT-licensed repository.
diff --git a/directory/differ/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/directory/differ/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
index b8dd6d0..3819fa7 100644
--- a/directory/differ/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/directory/differ/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "differ",
-  "version": "0.5.0",
+  "version": "0.5.1",
   "description": "Create, preview, publish and revise interactive social posts.",
   "author": {
     "name": "Sky Valley",
diff --git a/directory/differ/.codex-plugin/plugin.json b/directory/differ/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
index e230fb1..eda9218 100644
--- a/directory/differ/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/directory/differ/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "differ",
-  "version": "0.5.0",
+  "version": "0.5.1",
   "description": "Create, preview, publish and revise interactive social posts.",
   "author": {
     "name": "Sky Valley",
diff --git a/directory/differ/plugin.json b/directory/differ/plugin.json
index 1459848..25ba32c 100644
--- a/directory/differ/plugin.json
+++ b/directory/differ/plugin.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://agent-plugins.org/schemas/1.0.0/plugin.schema.json",
   "name": "differ",
-  "version": "0.5.0",
+  "version": "0.5.1",
   "description": "Create, preview, publish and revise interactive social posts.",
   "author": {
     "name": "Sky Valley",
diff --git a/directory/differ/skills.lock.json b/directory/differ/skills.lock.json
index 8eb1f11..83484b0 100644
--- a/directory/differ/skills.lock.json
+++ b/directory/differ/skills.lock.json
@@ -77,8 +77,13 @@
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/examples/vote/README.md",
-      "digest": "sha256:136357a5930e8e61fe1f3161db053435d81341526445b0edfda1e815b4cdc2d2",
-      "size": 1889
+      "digest": "sha256:d291254b1d3fceea3b3b829a8ff8125b6ed1b1e729bc57576c682a5f9097a3e2",
+      "size": 2589
+    },
+    {
+      "uri": "skill://publish-content/examples/vote/check-browser.mjs",
+      "digest": "sha256:44f2d6c31a07f59ae8cb0ed7655d06309b6cffb38081d27baf27cb6b7d8f5b79",
+      "size": 1819
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/examples/vote/check.mjs",
@@ -87,8 +92,8 @@
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/examples/vote/content/app.mjs",
-      "digest": "sha256:e1010cb228523ebdc499d008c15c201b290149dce297192253420dd0e9a3dfc6",
-      "size": 1952
+      "digest": "sha256:237ee0de7f0968ec43f19ffc21fd5077e8d0778cf9f49b38d9102a68a167596e",
+      "size": 2321
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/examples/vote/content/data/votes.html",
@@ -97,8 +102,8 @@
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/examples/vote/content/index.html",
-      "digest": "sha256:d44bec3347f4c4536a15fc9633ab9f9b4e255618edb6d498d9a8d08be0f99d1d",
-      "size": 1131
+      "digest": "sha256:ce0aa62697568b6f1d683b21748f48d7cb9cc1436f87e07099aabfe03f5d1a57",
+      "size": 1168
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/examples/vote/content/rules.html",
@@ -107,8 +112,8 @@
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/examples/vote/content/vote.mjs",
-      "digest": "sha256:3ce07820bfba8d8792bbea28671d7d835b3e3c5a1011e65ec7215d999bb22502",
-      "size": 894
+      "digest": "sha256:1eeac58ec35de44f18b68064a0de2da6e30e13d6486a7c29f197397295f23fa1",
+      "size": 978
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/references/connector.md",
@@ -122,8 +127,8 @@
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/references/participation.md",
-      "digest": "sha256:a4f05532cd9159907852fe1795e12705acd2deb0ec05acf2135fd2385ac43271",
-      "size": 7620
+      "digest": "sha256:b8ff86ab2003b6ad5a4f044f420f428d190f2478c64a9576019d17197dc67513",
+      "size": 8108
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/references/setup.md",
diff --git a/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/README.md b/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/README.md
index 3845e40..99547ea 100644
--- a/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/README.md
+++ b/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The afternoon question
 
 A complete ordinary HTML/JS post: tea or coffee, with one effective choice per
-signed-in identity, changeable over time. No SDK, generated rules or external
+signed-in identity, changeable over time. Uses the managed identity SDK, with no generated rules or external
 database. Publish only `examples/vote/content/`.
 
 Read `examples/vote/content/index.html`, `app.mjs`, `vote.mjs`, `rules.html` and
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ restricts choices. The browser counts the latest remaining choice for each
 trusted identity. Repeated clicks do not increase that identity's effective
 vote. This is one vote per identity, not a guarantee about physical people.
 
+On load, `pagelike.identity()` quietly restores an existing post identity. The
+UI then marks its latest remaining choice before any click. A new or signed-out
+visitor stays anonymous. Opening does not append a vote; `participate()` and
+the write remain in the button handler.
+
 History is deliberate: removing the latest choice reveals an earlier remaining
 one. Player's Your participation removes individual contributions; removing all
 of your choices leaves no vote. The creator can moderate contributions. The UI
@@ -26,6 +31,12 @@ reads and an actual SSE mutation, two identities, changes, forgery, multi-entry
 payloads, whole replacement, cross-person removal, own-removal and moderation.
 Run with Node 24+ and `PAGELIKE_BINARY=/absolute/path/to/pagelike`.
 
+Also run `node examples/vote/check-browser.mjs` with that variable and Playwright
+installed (or `PLAYWRIGHT_MODULE` pointing to its `index.mjs`). It verifies an
+existing choice appears before interaction, opening adds no vote, and a
+deliberate change updates the choice. It uses fixture identity with the real
+runtime; the platform's separate integration verifies restoration across logins.
+
 These checks have a specific contract. For a new activity, adapt its checks and
 prove them against deliberately defective variants before trusting green output.
 Browser and Player login checks remain separate. Never point mutation tests at
diff --git a/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/check-browser.mjs b/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/check-browser.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..63074f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/check-browser.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+import { readBundle, runtime } from '../../scripts/runtime.mjs';
+import { launchBrowser, viewer } from '../../scripts/browser.mjs';
+import { voteRequest } from './content/vote.mjs';
+
+const host = await runtime(); let browser;
+try {
+  browser = await launchBrowser();
+  const site = await host.site(await readBundle(fileURLToPath(new URL('./content/', import.meta.url))));
+  const alice = await site.participate('p_alice');
+  const saved = await site.request('/data/votes.html', voteRequest('p_alice', 'tea'), alice);
+  assert.equal(saved.status, 206); await saved.text();
+  const before = await (await site.request('/data/votes.html')).text();
+  const returning = await viewer(site, browser, 'p_alice'), guest = await viewer(site, browser, null);
+  try {
+    await returning.page.locator('[data-choice="tea"][aria-pressed="true"]').waitFor();
+    assert.equal(await returning.page.locator('#mine').textContent(), 'Your current choice: tea.');
+    assert.equal(await guest.page.locator('[aria-pressed="true"]').count(), 0);
+    assert.equal(await (await site.request('/data/votes.html')).text(), before, 'opening must not add a vote');
+    await returning.page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Coffee' }).click();
+    await returning.page.locator('[data-choice="coffee"][aria-pressed="true"]').waitFor();
+    assert.equal(await returning.page.locator('#totals').textContent(), 'Tea 0 · Coffee 1');
+    console.log('PASS: returning identity displays its existing vote before interaction; opening writes nothing; an intentional change updates it. Fixture identity, real runtime and browser.');
+  } finally { await returning.context.close(); await guest.context.close(); }
+} finally { if (browser) await browser.close(); await host.close(); }
diff --git a/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/app.mjs b/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/app.mjs
index 7a42fa7..20dcaad 100644
--- a/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/app.mjs
+++ b/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/app.mjs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { voteRequest, currentVotes } from './vote.mjs';
 const status = document.querySelector('#status');
 let reading = false, dirty = false;
+let participant = null;
 async function refresh() {
   dirty = true;
   if (reading) return;
@@ -10,8 +11,10 @@ async function refresh() {
       dirty = false;
       const response = await fetch('/data/votes.html', { cache: 'no-store' });
       if (!response.ok) throw Error('The room could not be loaded. Reconnecting…');
-      const votes = currentVotes(new DOMParser().parseFromString(await response.text(), 'text/html'));
+      const votes = currentVotes(new DOMParser().parseFromString(await response.text(), 'text/html'), participant);
       document.querySelector('#totals').textContent = `Tea ${votes.tea} · Coffee ${votes.coffee}`;
+      document.querySelector('#mine').textContent = votes.mine ? `Your current choice: ${votes.mine}.` : '';
+      for (const button of document.querySelectorAll('[data-choice]')) button.setAttribute('aria-pressed', String(button.dataset.choice === votes.mine));
     }
   } catch (error) { status.textContent = error.message; }
   finally { reading = false; }
@@ -26,7 +29,7 @@ for (const button of document.querySelectorAll('[data-choice]')) button.addEvent
   const buttons = [...document.querySelectorAll('button')];
   buttons.forEach(item => { item.disabled = true; });
   try {
-    const participant = await pagelike.participate();
+    participant = await pagelike.participate();
     const response = await fetch('/data/votes.html', voteRequest(participant, button.dataset.choice));
     if (!response.ok) throw Error(`Your choice was not saved (${response.status}). Please try again.`);
     status.textContent = 'Your latest choice counts.';
@@ -35,3 +38,5 @@ for (const button of document.querySelectorAll('[data-choice]')) button.addEvent
   finally { buttons.forEach(item => { item.disabled = false; }); }
 });
 await refresh();
+participant = await pagelike.identity();
+if (participant) await refresh();
diff --git a/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/index.html b/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/index.html
index d4bea73..b6220cd 100644
--- a/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/index.html
+++ b/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/index.html
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 <style>body{margin:0;background:#f5efdf;color:#28251f;font:20px system-ui}main{max-width:32rem;padding:2rem;margin:auto}h1{font-size:3rem;line-height:1}button{font:inherit;padding:1rem;margin:.4rem;border:2px solid;border-radius:2rem;background:#fff8e9}button:focus-visible{outline:4px solid #b24e29}output{display:block;margin:2rem 0;font-size:1.5rem}#status{min-height:3em;font-size:1rem}small{display:block;line-height:1.5}</style>
 <main><p>The afternoon question</p><h1>Tea or coffee?</h1>
 <output id="totals" aria-live="polite">Loading the room…</output>
+<p id="mine" aria-live="polite"></p>
 <button data-choice="tea">Tea</button><button data-choice="coffee">Coffee</button>
 <p id="status" role="status"></p><small>One current choice per signed-in identity. Change your mind whenever you like. Your latest remaining choice counts. Use Player’s Your participation to remove your contributions.</small></main>
 <script src="/-/client.js"></script><script type="module" src="./app.mjs"></script></html>
diff --git a/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/vote.mjs b/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/vote.mjs
index 120eaac..68543c2 100644
--- a/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/vote.mjs
+++ b/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/vote.mjs
@@ -6,9 +6,10 @@ export function voteRequest(participant, choice) {
     body: `<li data-voter="${escape(participant)}" data-choice="${choice}">${choice}</li>` };
 }
 
-export function currentVotes(document) {
+export function currentVotes(document, participant = null) {
   const latest = new Map();
   for (const entry of document.querySelectorAll('#votes > li')) latest.set(entry.dataset.voter, entry.dataset.choice);
   return { tea: [...latest.values()].filter(choice => choice === 'tea').length,
-    coffee: [...latest.values()].filter(choice => choice === 'coffee').length };
+    coffee: [...latest.values()].filter(choice => choice === 'coffee').length,
+    mine: participant ? latest.get(participant) ?? null : null };
 }
diff --git a/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/references/participation.md b/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/references/participation.md
index 9a1526b..0079123 100644
--- a/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/references/participation.md
+++ b/directory/differ/skills/publish-content/references/participation.md
@@ -14,9 +14,17 @@ authored files, rules and seeds. Never download live visitor data into a remix.
 Use relative authored asset URLs to stay on the selected version; root URLs
 address the current post. Live data always uses root `/data/...` URLs.
 
-Load `<script src="/-/client.js"></script>`. When someone explicitly chooses
+Load `<script src="/-/client.js"></script>`. On load, call
+`await pagelike.identity()` to quietly restore a returning participant's opaque
+post identity, including on another device signed into the same account. It
+returns `null` for first-time or signed-out visitors and when identity is
+unavailable, without a popup. Use the returned identity to read and mark their
+existing entries; restoration never adds a contribution. Keep public reads and
+local play usable while it resolves. Do not infer ownership from localStorage.
+
+When someone explicitly chooses
 to contribute, call `await pagelike.participate()`. Player handles sign-in and
-consent, and the runtime sets its host-only HttpOnly partitioned cookie. The
+participation, and the runtime sets its host-only HttpOnly partitioned cookie. The
 result is an opaque identity string stable within this post. No email,
 handle or cross-post identity is disclosed. Then use same-origin `fetch`:
 
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index ed307fb..3f9740c 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "differ-plugin",
-  "version": "0.5.0",
+  "version": "0.5.1",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "differ-plugin",
-      "version": "0.5.0",
+      "version": "0.5.1",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk": "1.30.0",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a14e68c..6fd68c7 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "differ-plugin",
-  "version": "0.5.0",
+  "version": "0.5.1",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "engines": {
diff --git a/plugins/differ/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/differ/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
index b8dd6d0..3819fa7 100644
--- a/plugins/differ/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/differ/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "differ",
-  "version": "0.5.0",
+  "version": "0.5.1",
   "description": "Create, preview, publish and revise interactive social posts.",
   "author": {
     "name": "Sky Valley",
diff --git a/plugins/differ/.codex-plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/differ/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
index e230fb1..eda9218 100644
--- a/plugins/differ/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/differ/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "differ",
-  "version": "0.5.0",
+  "version": "0.5.1",
   "description": "Create, preview, publish and revise interactive social posts.",
   "author": {
     "name": "Sky Valley",
diff --git a/plugins/differ/plugin.json b/plugins/differ/plugin.json
index 1459848..25ba32c 100644
--- a/plugins/differ/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/differ/plugin.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://agent-plugins.org/schemas/1.0.0/plugin.schema.json",
   "name": "differ",
-  "version": "0.5.0",
+  "version": "0.5.1",
   "description": "Create, preview, publish and revise interactive social posts.",
   "author": {
     "name": "Sky Valley",
diff --git a/plugins/differ/scripts/differ.cjs b/plugins/differ/scripts/differ.cjs
index 828fd5c..00d2c3a 100644
--- a/plugins/differ/scripts/differ.cjs
+++ b/plugins/differ/scripts/differ.cjs
@@ -37138,7 +37138,7 @@ function inspectVideo(input2) {
 // package.json
 var package_default = {
   name: "differ-plugin",
-  version: "0.5.0",
+  version: "0.5.1",
   private: true,
   type: "module",
   engines: {
diff --git a/plugins/differ/skills.lock.json b/plugins/differ/skills.lock.json
index 8eb1f11..83484b0 100644
--- a/plugins/differ/skills.lock.json
+++ b/plugins/differ/skills.lock.json
@@ -77,8 +77,13 @@
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/examples/vote/README.md",
-      "digest": "sha256:136357a5930e8e61fe1f3161db053435d81341526445b0edfda1e815b4cdc2d2",
-      "size": 1889
+      "digest": "sha256:d291254b1d3fceea3b3b829a8ff8125b6ed1b1e729bc57576c682a5f9097a3e2",
+      "size": 2589
+    },
+    {
+      "uri": "skill://publish-content/examples/vote/check-browser.mjs",
+      "digest": "sha256:44f2d6c31a07f59ae8cb0ed7655d06309b6cffb38081d27baf27cb6b7d8f5b79",
+      "size": 1819
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/examples/vote/check.mjs",
@@ -87,8 +92,8 @@
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/examples/vote/content/app.mjs",
-      "digest": "sha256:e1010cb228523ebdc499d008c15c201b290149dce297192253420dd0e9a3dfc6",
-      "size": 1952
+      "digest": "sha256:237ee0de7f0968ec43f19ffc21fd5077e8d0778cf9f49b38d9102a68a167596e",
+      "size": 2321
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/examples/vote/content/data/votes.html",
@@ -97,8 +102,8 @@
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/examples/vote/content/index.html",
-      "digest": "sha256:d44bec3347f4c4536a15fc9633ab9f9b4e255618edb6d498d9a8d08be0f99d1d",
-      "size": 1131
+      "digest": "sha256:ce0aa62697568b6f1d683b21748f48d7cb9cc1436f87e07099aabfe03f5d1a57",
+      "size": 1168
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/examples/vote/content/rules.html",
@@ -107,8 +112,8 @@
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/examples/vote/content/vote.mjs",
-      "digest": "sha256:3ce07820bfba8d8792bbea28671d7d835b3e3c5a1011e65ec7215d999bb22502",
-      "size": 894
+      "digest": "sha256:1eeac58ec35de44f18b68064a0de2da6e30e13d6486a7c29f197397295f23fa1",
+      "size": 978
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/references/connector.md",
@@ -122,8 +127,8 @@
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/references/participation.md",
-      "digest": "sha256:a4f05532cd9159907852fe1795e12705acd2deb0ec05acf2135fd2385ac43271",
-      "size": 7620
+      "digest": "sha256:b8ff86ab2003b6ad5a4f044f420f428d190f2478c64a9576019d17197dc67513",
+      "size": 8108
     },
     {
       "uri": "skill://publish-content/references/setup.md",
diff --git a/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/README.md b/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/README.md
index 3845e40..99547ea 100644
--- a/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/README.md
+++ b/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The afternoon question
 
 A complete ordinary HTML/JS post: tea or coffee, with one effective choice per
-signed-in identity, changeable over time. No SDK, generated rules or external
+signed-in identity, changeable over time. Uses the managed identity SDK, with no generated rules or external
 database. Publish only `examples/vote/content/`.
 
 Read `examples/vote/content/index.html`, `app.mjs`, `vote.mjs`, `rules.html` and
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ restricts choices. The browser counts the latest remaining choice for each
 trusted identity. Repeated clicks do not increase that identity's effective
 vote. This is one vote per identity, not a guarantee about physical people.
 
+On load, `pagelike.identity()` quietly restores an existing post identity. The
+UI then marks its latest remaining choice before any click. A new or signed-out
+visitor stays anonymous. Opening does not append a vote; `participate()` and
+the write remain in the button handler.
+
 History is deliberate: removing the latest choice reveals an earlier remaining
 one. Player's Your participation removes individual contributions; removing all
 of your choices leaves no vote. The creator can moderate contributions. The UI
@@ -26,6 +31,12 @@ reads and an actual SSE mutation, two identities, changes, forgery, multi-entry
 payloads, whole replacement, cross-person removal, own-removal and moderation.
 Run with Node 24+ and `PAGELIKE_BINARY=/absolute/path/to/pagelike`.
 
+Also run `node examples/vote/check-browser.mjs` with that variable and Playwright
+installed (or `PLAYWRIGHT_MODULE` pointing to its `index.mjs`). It verifies an
+existing choice appears before interaction, opening adds no vote, and a
+deliberate change updates the choice. It uses fixture identity with the real
+runtime; the platform's separate integration verifies restoration across logins.
+
 These checks have a specific contract. For a new activity, adapt its checks and
 prove them against deliberately defective variants before trusting green output.
 Browser and Player login checks remain separate. Never point mutation tests at
diff --git a/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/check-browser.mjs b/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/check-browser.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..63074f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/check-browser.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+import { readBundle, runtime } from '../../scripts/runtime.mjs';
+import { launchBrowser, viewer } from '../../scripts/browser.mjs';
+import { voteRequest } from './content/vote.mjs';
+
+const host = await runtime(); let browser;
+try {
+  browser = await launchBrowser();
+  const site = await host.site(await readBundle(fileURLToPath(new URL('./content/', import.meta.url))));
+  const alice = await site.participate('p_alice');
+  const saved = await site.request('/data/votes.html', voteRequest('p_alice', 'tea'), alice);
+  assert.equal(saved.status, 206); await saved.text();
+  const before = await (await site.request('/data/votes.html')).text();
+  const returning = await viewer(site, browser, 'p_alice'), guest = await viewer(site, browser, null);
+  try {
+    await returning.page.locator('[data-choice="tea"][aria-pressed="true"]').waitFor();
+    assert.equal(await returning.page.locator('#mine').textContent(), 'Your current choice: tea.');
+    assert.equal(await guest.page.locator('[aria-pressed="true"]').count(), 0);
+    assert.equal(await (await site.request('/data/votes.html')).text(), before, 'opening must not add a vote');
+    await returning.page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Coffee' }).click();
+    await returning.page.locator('[data-choice="coffee"][aria-pressed="true"]').waitFor();
+    assert.equal(await returning.page.locator('#totals').textContent(), 'Tea 0 · Coffee 1');
+    console.log('PASS: returning identity displays its existing vote before interaction; opening writes nothing; an intentional change updates it. Fixture identity, real runtime and browser.');
+  } finally { await returning.context.close(); await guest.context.close(); }
+} finally { if (browser) await browser.close(); await host.close(); }
diff --git a/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/app.mjs b/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/app.mjs
index 7a42fa7..20dcaad 100644
--- a/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/app.mjs
+++ b/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/app.mjs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { voteRequest, currentVotes } from './vote.mjs';
 const status = document.querySelector('#status');
 let reading = false, dirty = false;
+let participant = null;
 async function refresh() {
   dirty = true;
   if (reading) return;
@@ -10,8 +11,10 @@ async function refresh() {
       dirty = false;
       const response = await fetch('/data/votes.html', { cache: 'no-store' });
       if (!response.ok) throw Error('The room could not be loaded. Reconnecting…');
-      const votes = currentVotes(new DOMParser().parseFromString(await response.text(), 'text/html'));
+      const votes = currentVotes(new DOMParser().parseFromString(await response.text(), 'text/html'), participant);
       document.querySelector('#totals').textContent = `Tea ${votes.tea} · Coffee ${votes.coffee}`;
+      document.querySelector('#mine').textContent = votes.mine ? `Your current choice: ${votes.mine}.` : '';
+      for (const button of document.querySelectorAll('[data-choice]')) button.setAttribute('aria-pressed', String(button.dataset.choice === votes.mine));
     }
   } catch (error) { status.textContent = error.message; }
   finally { reading = false; }
@@ -26,7 +29,7 @@ for (const button of document.querySelectorAll('[data-choice]')) button.addEvent
   const buttons = [...document.querySelectorAll('button')];
   buttons.forEach(item => { item.disabled = true; });
   try {
-    const participant = await pagelike.participate();
+    participant = await pagelike.participate();
     const response = await fetch('/data/votes.html', voteRequest(participant, button.dataset.choice));
     if (!response.ok) throw Error(`Your choice was not saved (${response.status}). Please try again.`);
     status.textContent = 'Your latest choice counts.';
@@ -35,3 +38,5 @@ for (const button of document.querySelectorAll('[data-choice]')) button.addEvent
   finally { buttons.forEach(item => { item.disabled = false; }); }
 });
 await refresh();
+participant = await pagelike.identity();
+if (participant) await refresh();
diff --git a/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/index.html b/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/index.html
index d4bea73..b6220cd 100644
--- a/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/index.html
+++ b/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/index.html
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 <style>body{margin:0;background:#f5efdf;color:#28251f;font:20px system-ui}main{max-width:32rem;padding:2rem;margin:auto}h1{font-size:3rem;line-height:1}button{font:inherit;padding:1rem;margin:.4rem;border:2px solid;border-radius:2rem;background:#fff8e9}button:focus-visible{outline:4px solid #b24e29}output{display:block;margin:2rem 0;font-size:1.5rem}#status{min-height:3em;font-size:1rem}small{display:block;line-height:1.5}</style>
 <main><p>The afternoon question</p><h1>Tea or coffee?</h1>
 <output id="totals" aria-live="polite">Loading the room…</output>
+<p id="mine" aria-live="polite"></p>
 <button data-choice="tea">Tea</button><button data-choice="coffee">Coffee</button>
 <p id="status" role="status"></p><small>One current choice per signed-in identity. Change your mind whenever you like. Your latest remaining choice counts. Use Player’s Your participation to remove your contributions.</small></main>
 <script src="/-/client.js"></script><script type="module" src="./app.mjs"></script></html>
diff --git a/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/vote.mjs b/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/vote.mjs
index 120eaac..68543c2 100644
--- a/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/vote.mjs
+++ b/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/examples/vote/content/vote.mjs
@@ -6,9 +6,10 @@ export function voteRequest(participant, choice) {
     body: `<li data-voter="${escape(participant)}" data-choice="${choice}">${choice}</li>` };
 }
 
-export function currentVotes(document) {
+export function currentVotes(document, participant = null) {
   const latest = new Map();
   for (const entry of document.querySelectorAll('#votes > li')) latest.set(entry.dataset.voter, entry.dataset.choice);
   return { tea: [...latest.values()].filter(choice => choice === 'tea').length,
-    coffee: [...latest.values()].filter(choice => choice === 'coffee').length };
+    coffee: [...latest.values()].filter(choice => choice === 'coffee').length,
+    mine: participant ? latest.get(participant) ?? null : null };
 }
diff --git a/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/references/participation.md b/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/references/participation.md
index 9a1526b..0079123 100644
--- a/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/references/participation.md
+++ b/plugins/differ/skills/publish-content/references/participation.md
@@ -14,9 +14,17 @@ authored files, rules and seeds. Never download live visitor data into a remix.
 Use relative authored asset URLs to stay on the selected version; root URLs
 address the current post. Live data always uses root `/data/...` URLs.
 
-Load `<script src="/-/client.js"></script>`. When someone explicitly chooses
+Load `<script src="/-/client.js"></script>`. On load, call
+`await pagelike.identity()` to quietly restore a returning participant's opaque
+post identity, including on another device signed into the same account. It
+returns `null` for first-time or signed-out visitors and when identity is
+unavailable, without a popup. Use the returned identity to read and mark their
+existing entries; restoration never adds a contribution. Keep public reads and
+local play usable while it resolves. Do not infer ownership from localStorage.
+
+When someone explicitly chooses
 to contribute, call `await pagelike.participate()`. Player handles sign-in and
-consent, and the runtime sets its host-only HttpOnly partitioned cookie. The
+participation, and the runtime sets its host-only HttpOnly partitioned cookie. The
 result is an opaque identity string stable within this post. No email,
 handle or cross-post identity is disclosed. Then use same-origin `fetch`: