diff --git a/daemon.py b/daemon.py
index ebe93ad5..81cc167d 100644
--- a/daemon.py
+++ b/daemon.py
@@ -11356,6 +11356,7 @@ def loadTokens(baseDir: str, tokensDict: {}, tokensLookup: {}) -> None:
 
 
 def runDaemon(positiveVoting: bool,
+              newswireVotesThreshold: int,
               newsInstance: bool,
               blogsInstance: bool,
               mediaInstance: bool,
@@ -11466,6 +11467,9 @@ def runDaemon(positiveVoting: bool,
     # on the newswire, whether moderators vote positively for items
     # or against them (veto)
     httpd.positiveVoting = positiveVoting
+    # number of votes needed to remove a newswire item from the news timeline
+    # or if positive voting is anabled to add the item to the news timeline
+    httpd.newswireVotesThreshold = newswireVotesThreshold
 
     if registration == 'open':
         httpd.registration = True
diff --git a/epicyon.py b/epicyon.py
index ea13307d..4c89797b 100644
--- a/epicyon.py
+++ b/epicyon.py
@@ -256,6 +256,10 @@ parser.add_argument('--archiveweeks', dest='archiveWeeks', type=str,
 parser.add_argument('--maxposts', dest='archiveMaxPosts', type=str,
                     default=None,
                     help='Maximum number of posts in in/outbox')
+parser.add_argument('--minimumVotes', dest='minimumVotes', type=str,
+                    default=None,
+                    help='Minimum number of votes to remove or add' +
+                    ' a newswire item')
 parser.add_argument('--message', dest='message', type=str,
                     default=None,
                     help='Message content')
@@ -1916,6 +1920,7 @@ if setTheme(baseDir, themeName):
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     runDaemon(args.positivevoting,
+              args.minimumVotes,
               args.newsinstance,
               args.blogsinstance, args.mediainstance,
               args.maxRecentPosts,
diff --git a/tests.py b/tests.py
index 8a8989e0..0de1c0c6 100644
--- a/tests.py
+++ b/tests.py
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ def createServerAlice(path: str, domain: str, port: int,
     onionDomain = None
     i2pDomain = None
     print('Server running: Alice')
-    runDaemon(False, False, False, False,
+    runDaemon(False, 1, False, False, False,
               5, True, True, 'en', __version__,
               "instanceId", False, path, domain,
               onionDomain, i2pDomain, None, port, port,
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ def createServerBob(path: str, domain: str, port: int,
     onionDomain = None
     i2pDomain = None
     print('Server running: Bob')
-    runDaemon(False, False, False, False,
+    runDaemon(False, 1, False, False, False,
               5, True, True, 'en', __version__,
               "instanceId", False, path, domain,
               onionDomain, i2pDomain, None, port, port,
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ def createServerEve(path: str, domain: str, port: int, federationList: [],
     onionDomain = None
     i2pDomain = None
     print('Server running: Eve')
-    runDaemon(False, False, False, False,
+    runDaemon(False, 1, False, False, False,
               5, True, True, 'en', __version__,
               "instanceId", False, path, domain,
               onionDomain, i2pDomain, None, port, port,