diff --git a/app/extend_vote.go b/app/extend_vote.go
index ca7a5f8a7..8021b34c7 100644
--- a/app/extend_vote.go
+++ b/app/extend_vote.go
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ type BridgeKeeper interface {
 
 type StakingKeeper interface {
 	GetValidatorByConsAddr(ctx context.Context, consAddr sdk.ConsAddress) (validator stakingtypes.Validator, err error)
+	GetBondedValidatorsByPower(ctx context.Context) ([]stakingtypes.Validator, error)
 }
 
 type VoteExtHandler struct {
diff --git a/app/proposal_handler.go b/app/proposal_handler.go
index 3019f4c08..892faf5fd 100644
--- a/app/proposal_handler.go
+++ b/app/proposal_handler.go
@@ -63,7 +63,19 @@ func NewProposalHandler(logger log.Logger, valStore baseapp.ValidatorStore, appC
 }
 
 func (h *ProposalHandler) PrepareProposalHandler(ctx sdk.Context, req *abci.RequestPrepareProposal) (*abci.ResponsePrepareProposal, error) {
-	err := baseapp.ValidateVoteExtensions(ctx, h.valStore, req.Height, ctx.ChainID(), req.LocalLastCommit)
+	// Verify number of votes doesn't exceed bonded validators
+	bondedVals, err := h.stakingKeeper.GetBondedValidatorsByPower(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		h.logger.Error("PrepareProposalHandler: failed to get bonded validators", "error", err)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if len(req.LocalLastCommit.Votes) > len(bondedVals) {
+		h.logger.Error("PrepareProposalHandler: number of votes exceeds bonded validators",
+			"votes", len(req.LocalLastCommit.Votes),
+			"bonded_validators", len(bondedVals))
+		return nil, errors.New("number of votes exceeds bonded validators")
+	}
+	err = baseapp.ValidateVoteExtensions(ctx, h.valStore, req.Height, ctx.ChainID(), req.LocalLastCommit)
 	if err != nil {
 		h.logger.Info("PrepareProposalHandler: failed to validate vote extensions", "error", err, "votes", req.LocalLastCommit.Votes)
 		return nil, err
@@ -126,7 +138,16 @@ func (h *ProposalHandler) ProcessProposalHandler(ctx sdk.Context, req *abci.Requ
 			h.logger.Error("ProcessProposalHandler: rejecting proposal, failed to validate vote extension", "error", err)
 			return &abci.ResponseProcessProposal{Status: abci.ResponseProcessProposal_REJECT}, nil
 		}
-
+		// Verify number of votes doesn't exceed bonded validators
+		bondedVals, err := h.stakingKeeper.GetBondedValidatorsByPower(ctx)
+		if err != nil {
+			h.logger.Error("ProcessProposalHandler: failed to get bonded validators", "error", err)
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if len(injectedVoteExtTx.ExtendedCommitInfo.Votes) > len(bondedVals) {
+			h.logger.Error("ProcessProposalHandler: number of votes exceeds bonded validators", "votes", len(injectedVoteExtTx.ExtendedCommitInfo.Votes), "bonded_validators", len(bondedVals))
+			return &abci.ResponseProcessProposal{Status: abci.ResponseProcessProposal_REJECT}, nil
+		}
 		operatorAddresses, evmAddresses := h.CheckInitialSignaturesFromLastCommit(ctx, injectedVoteExtTx.ExtendedCommitInfo)
 
 		if !reflect.DeepEqual(operatorAddresses, injectedVoteExtTx.OpAndEVMAddrs.OperatorAddresses) {