Wow, that's awful. Is it one influence point per vote, or is there some conversion rate? I ask because even in a fairly mediocre medium map empire, I'm pushing a hundred thousand votes, so that one influence point won't go very far if it's one point per vote.

One thing i've tried once, call me the idiot newbie of long past, is to trade as much as i could to every other races IPs just before a UP meeting cuz i really wanted to have the upper hand in the next decision. I sure did; IIRC, everyone's trade routes gained the benefit of extra-protection for three years, or somethin' in that line of thought!
This was the very last occasion i gave out any technology advantages to some AIs for timely votes.

Btw, you can also get a Peace Treaty by dealing a lot of stuff to an enemy -- only to be stabbed right back soon after by ANOTHER but brand new declaration of War! Hypocrits, i said, an algorithm behaving in this devilishly manner might as well select Neutral as Ethics permanently. I'm accountable for what i decide to do, so should ai_they - in fact.

Some things are soooooooo strange in a GC galaxy.

I consistantly top off trades with money but if they offer up all their money then I'll take whatever ip they'll give. It doesn't hurt but I wish they'd make that slider like the money trade -- that it would just go to their maximum offer.