Some Votes succeeded in escaping to Sweden, some to Estonia, those returning were dispersed throughout the Soviet provinces, as far as Central Asia. After Stalin's death, numerous petitions were sent to Moscow and, as a result, from 1956 on, a number of Votes were allowed to return to their homes. Their homes, however, were already occupied by strangers. Most of the Russians now living in the ancient Votic villages do not even know who the Votes are or where they live. Ethnic culture .
Votes are ancient farmers and herders.
The inhabitants of Vaipool were also fishermen and sailors. Trades and crafts were an essential part of Votic life. Towns offered more opportunities to the Votes. The ancient folk culture constitutes the mainstay of the Votic identity. It must be stressed that the fundamental part of the language about crafts and trades is Baltic-Finnic.