A minimal scheme to account for modulatory influences on activated/open-state stability by VSD relaxation and by ion binding within the pore. The “Open Empty” and “Open Occupied Stabilized” states are in rapid equilibrium for low-affinity pore ligands including permeant cations and weak blockers such as NMG⁺; thus, these two states effectively can be treated as a single state. Transitions forming the focus of experiments by Labro et al. (2012) are shown in black, whereas those central to the study of Goodchild et al. (2012) are in red. VSD, voltage-sensor domain; PD, pore domain; X⁺, ion that enters the pore inner cavity.