diff --git a/.kiro/specs/ha-single-leader-role/tasks.md b/.kiro/specs/ha-single-leader-role/tasks.md
index bd35ae99..4d32a9f2 100644
--- a/.kiro/specs/ha-single-leader-role/tasks.md
+++ b/.kiro/specs/ha-single-leader-role/tasks.md
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
   - Observable completion: full controller suite green; `grep -rln "COMMITTING" src/controller/testsuite/` returns zero files
   - _Requirements: 1.1, 1.2_
 
-- [ ] 5.2 Remove the enum value and remaining declarations (compiler-enforced completeness)
+- [x] 5.2 Remove the enum value and remaining declarations (compiler-enforced completeness)
   - Delete `CTRL_PRIMARY_COMMITTING = 4` from `ctrl_role_t` (ha.h:64); delete `HA_DEFAULT_COMMITTING_TIMEOUT_MS` (ha.h:131), `committing_timeout_ms` (ha.h:141), `repl_ack_count` (ha.h:180), `committing_timeout_ctx` (ha.h:187); delete the `.committing_timeout_ms` initializer (cluster.c:899); sweep remaining ha.h comments (214-230, 244-262, 373, 503-519, 607-614, 673-700, 791), the cluster.c ctrlhello comment (1402-1410), and the raft.c comment (src/lib/raft/raft.c:123)
   - Fix everything the compiler then surfaces — this is the completeness gate for code references
   - Observable completion: clean build with zero warnings about the removed symbols; full controller testsuite + ASAN green via `/xce-build controller`
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@
 - **(3.1) Legacy path routes through BARE helpers, not `ha_promote_to_primary`**: `ha_elect_evaluate_and_signal`'s PRIMARY branch calls `ha_register_persist_hooks` + `ha_start_primary_heartbeat` + `ha_arm_own_term_gate` directly (matching the raft path), NOT `ha_promote_to_primary` — because the latter calls `ha_do_promote` (term increment) and the legacy branch historically has NO term store/increment (research §4 finding 2). This is a deliberate deviation from design §283's loose wording ("route through ha_promote_to_primary / ha_register_persist_hooks"); the bare-helper route preserves term semantics and is the correct reading.
 - **(4.1) No shims — DELETE, don't stub** (design §Transitional-State Deletions / §Design Synthesis: "rewritten or DELETED, not stubbed"). Machinery-subject test cases (convergence checker, committing watchdog, ack-driven promotion, ack counting) were DELETED, not shimmed: test_ha_role.c (5 majority_convergence + 2 committing_timeout_promotes_degraded), test_ha_rdhup_integration.c (rdhup_committing_to_primary_on_ack, rdhup_3node_one_ack_promotes), test_ha_connection_reuse.c (dispatcher_committing_handles_repl_ack, promoted_ep_repl_ack_promotes_to_primary). Kept state-entry cases had their deleted-fn CALLS excised (not shimmed). `test_ha_connection_reuse.c` was overlooked by the spec's §3 census disposition for machinery cases — confirmed in census (line 97) but its ack cases needed DELETE, not UPDATE.
 - **(4.2) Residual stale COMMITTING comments in ha.c** (~lines 443, 826, 1240): documentary prose on the legacy raft_cb_become_leader/convergence path — NOT live branches. Scrub in 5.2/6.x (they fail the task-6.2 repo-wide grep). After 4.2, ZERO live code branches on `CTRL_PRIMARY_COMMITTING` in ha.c; the enum value persists in ha.h:64 until 5.2.
+- **(5.2) Code is COMMITTING-free; only DOCS remain for task 6.1**: after 5.2 the grep `CTRL_PRIMARY_COMMITTING|HA_DEFAULT_COMMITTING_TIMEOUT_MS|committing_timeout_ms|repl_ack_count|committing_timeout_ctx` is ZERO across `src/controller/` + `src/lib/`. Remaining tree references (task 6.1 docs-sync targets, then 6.2 verifies): `src/docs/cluster-config-split-analysis.md:34` (committing_timeout_ms) AND `src/controller/CLAUDE.md` (TLA+/role-mapping table still names PRIMARY_COMMITTING — 6.1 must scrub ALL its COMMITTING refs, not just the :40 line) plus the steering/skill docs already listed in 6.1. ctrl_role_t now has 4 values: CTRL_PRIMARY=0, CTRL_STANDBY=1, CTRL_INIT=2, CTRL_ELECTING=3.
 - **(5.1) Meson 300s timeout is now routinely hit** — barrier tests' commit-deadline waits push controller-suite wall-time over the 300s meson cap under load (`Fail: 0, Timeout: 1`). The AUTHORITATIVE green check is the DIRECT binary run (`src/xce.build/controller/controller_unit_test`, EXIT=0, 167 Tests/0 Failures aggregated). For task 6.2's "suite + ASAN green" gate: run the direct binary OR re-run meson until under-cap; a `Timeout: 1` is a wrapper artifact, NOT a test failure. `test_committing_timeout_default_is_60s` was DELETED in 5.1 (not 5.2) because its body used the uppercase production macro `HA_DEFAULT_COMMITTING_TIMEOUT_MS` (caught by the grep gate); the knob it tested dies in 5.2 regardless.
 - **(4.2) Test-leak / suite-timeout facts**: the controller test target sets `ASAN_OPTIONS=detect_leaks=0` (controller/meson.build:163), so a pre-existing suite-wide LSan leak (~153KB, present at baseline 678b7f8, this spec leaks slightly LESS) is suppressed under the meson gate — LSan exit=1 only on a RAW direct-binary run, not a regression. The controller suite runs ~268s against a 300s meson timeout — borderline; the final task-6.2 full regression may TIMEOUT under machine load — re-run if so (it is not a failure).
 - **(4.1) Residual for task 6.2 final grep**: 3 DOCUMENTARY PROSE comments in `test_ha_role_lifecycle.c` (~lines 760/815/825) still mention `ha_repl_ack_received`/`committing_timeout_fn` by name (no live code). The 4.1 gate (`src/controller/*.c|*.h`) excludes testsuite so this passed; the task-6.2 repo-wide grep WILL catch them — scrub these comments in 5.x/6.x. Also a non-tracked editor backup `src/controller/.ha.c.~undo-tree~` holds stale refs (irrelevant; not a build input — do not commit).
diff --git a/src/controller/cluster.c b/src/controller/cluster.c
index f409c637..e2554777 100644
--- a/src/controller/cluster.c
+++ b/src/controller/cluster.c
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ static int myreq_handler(vtask_t* task)
          * raft_on_vote_request handles:
          *   - stale-term deny (term < current_term)
          *   - term upgrade (term > current_term → clear voted_for)
-         *   - role gate: RAFT_LEADER denies; COMMITTING gate in on_vote_eligible
+         *   - role gate: RAFT_LEADER denies (via on_vote_eligible)
          *   - one-vote-per-term invariant (voted_for != -1 && voted_for != from_idx)
          *   - on_persist before granting (durability guarantee)
          *
@@ -925,7 +925,6 @@ int cluster_init_phase1(cluster_t* c)
         .max_promotion_retries     = HA_DEFAULT_MAX_PROMOTION_RETRIES,
         .election_jitter_max_ms    = HA_DEFAULT_ELECTION_JITTER_MAX_MS,
         .election_priority_step_ms = HA_DEFAULT_ELECTION_PRIORITY_STEP_MS,
-        .committing_timeout_ms     = HA_DEFAULT_COMMITTING_TIMEOUT_MS,
     };
 
     int my_priority = 0;
@@ -1464,8 +1463,8 @@ int cluster_run(cluster_t* c)
  * This triggers handle_ctrlhello on the receiving standby, which runs the
  * existing catch-up replication sequence (WAL streaming, config push).
  *
- * Must be called from the COMMITTING path in ha_elect_evaluate_and_signal
- * after ha->role is set to CTRL_PRIMARY_COMMITTING (Req 7.2).
+ * Must be called from the post-election path in ha_elect_evaluate_and_signal
+ * after ha->role is set to CTRL_PRIMARY (Req 7.2).
  *
  * Thread safety: acquires ha->lock around standby_endpoints iteration.
  * Best-effort: failures per-endpoint are logged but do not abort the loop.
diff --git a/src/controller/ha.c b/src/controller/ha.c
index 8bde5326..afe99836 100644
--- a/src/controller/ha.c
+++ b/src/controller/ha.c
@@ -437,13 +437,12 @@ void ha_compute_safe_committed_lsn(ha_elect_ctx_t *ctx,
 }
 
 /*
- * raft_cb_become_leader: node won the election — enter COMMITTING state.
+ * raft_cb_become_leader: node won the election — enter CTRL_PRIMARY directly.
  *
  * Equivalent of ha_elect_evaluate_and_signal CTRL_PRIMARY path:
- *   - enter CTRL_PRIMARY_COMMITTING
+ *   - enter CTRL_PRIMARY (no transitional state)
  *   - call cluster_init_phase2 on first boot
- *   - reset repl_ack_count, push config, send ctrlhello
- *   - arm committing timeout watchdog
+ *   - push config, send ctrlhello
  *
  * ha->raft_c must be non-NULL (production path only; test mode uses noop stubs).
  */
@@ -469,7 +468,7 @@ static void raft_cb_become_leader(void *ctx, uint64_t term)
             uint64_t safe_lsn = 0;
             uint64_t safe_tag = 0;
             ha_compute_safe_committed_lsn(ectx, &safe_lsn, &safe_tag);
-            /* Store results for use in WAL truncation and COMMITTING phase.
+            /* Store results for use in WAL truncation and post-election commit.
              * safe_lsn is the highest LSN on a majority; entries above it
              * may not have been committed on all nodes and must be truncated. */
             if (c) {
@@ -486,7 +485,7 @@ static void raft_cb_become_leader(void *ctx, uint64_t term)
              * Req 2.3 (ha-repl-hardening). */
             atomic_store_explicit(&ha->last_known_committed_lsn, safe_lsn,
                                   memory_order_release);
-            /* Update committed config tag baseline for the COMMITTING decision loop */
+            /* Update committed config tag baseline for the post-election decision loop */
             atomic_store_explicit(&ha->committed_config_tag, safe_tag,
                                   memory_order_release);
         }
@@ -520,7 +519,7 @@ static void raft_cb_become_leader(void *ctx, uint64_t term)
          ", first_boot=%d)", term, is_first_boot);
 
     /* Req 2.1 (ha-repl-hardening): re-initialize per-standby convergence
-     * tracking for THIS committing round.  Stale converged flags from a
+     * tracking for THIS primary term.  Stale converged flags from a
      * previous term (demote → re-elect cycle) must not satisfy the
      * majority-convergence gate before standbys re-report their state. */
     memset(ha->standby_reported_tag, 0, sizeof(ha->standby_reported_tag));
@@ -823,7 +822,7 @@ int ha_init(ha_state_t *ha, const ha_config_t *cfg, int my_priority)
 
     /* ha-repl-hardening Task 1.4: per-standby convergence tracking arrays.
      * memset(ha, 0, sizeof(*ha)) above already zeroes these arrays; the explicit
-     * note documents the invariant: on entry to CTRL_PRIMARY_COMMITTING every
+     * note documents the invariant: on promotion to CTRL_PRIMARY every
      * standby starts as not-converged (tag=0, lsn=0, converged=false). */
 
     /* heartbeat_seen starts at 0: no heartbeat seen yet.
@@ -1237,8 +1236,8 @@ ha_repl_action_t ha_evaluate_repl_action(uint64_t standby_tag,
 /*
  * ha_process_standby_state — update per-standby convergence tracking.
  *
- * Called on each heartbeat reply from a standby (CTRL_PRIMARY_COMMITTING or
- * CTRL_PRIMARY).  Stores (reported_tag, reported_lsn) into the per-standby
+ * Called on each heartbeat reply from a standby (CTRL_PRIMARY).
+ * Stores (reported_tag, reported_lsn) into the per-standby
  * arrays, evaluates convergence, and logs INFO on the first
  * not-converged → converged transition (Req 7.2).  Regression resets the flag
  * (Req 2.5).
@@ -2071,14 +2070,14 @@ int (*ha_phase2_hook)(void *c) = NULL;
 
 /*
  * ha_send_ctrlhello_hook: test-only seam for ha_send_ctrlhello_to_all_standbys.
- * When non-NULL, the COMMITTING path calls this INSTEAD OF the real function
+ * When non-NULL, the post-election path calls this INSTEAD OF the real function
  * (cluster.c is not linked in unit-test binary). Req 7.2.
  */
 int (*ha_send_ctrlhello_hook)(void *c) = NULL;
 
 /*
  * ha_push_config_hook: test-only seam for push_config_transport_only.
- * When non-NULL, the COMMITTING path calls this INSTEAD OF the real function
+ * When non-NULL, the post-election path calls this INSTEAD OF the real function
  * (config_repl.c's push_config_transport_only needs a real cluster). Req 7.1.
  */
 int (*ha_push_config_hook)(void *c) = NULL;
@@ -2976,7 +2975,7 @@ int election_timeout_fn_for_test(ha_state_t *ha, ha_elect_ctx_t *ctx,
 /*
  * repl_catchup_done_pkt_for_test: build a minimal io_packet_t encoding
  * Request{opcode=replCatchUpDone, body_which=nodata}.
- * Used by peer_ctrl_msg_handler tests to verify the COMMITTING dispatch path.
+ * Used by peer_ctrl_msg_handler tests to verify the repl-ack dispatch path.
  */
 io_packet_t *repl_catchup_done_pkt_for_test(void)
 {
@@ -3273,7 +3272,7 @@ void ha_start_election_async(ha_state_t *ha, cluster_t *c,
         INFO("ha_start_election_async: no local config (tag=0, n_peers=%d) — "
              "participating as voter only, not starting own election", n_peers);
         /* Transition to CTRL_STANDBY so myapp_run schedules fetch_config_from_primary.
-         * The primary will push config via ctrlhello once it enters COMMITTING. */
+         * The primary will push config via ctrlhello once it becomes CTRL_PRIMARY. */
         atomic_store_explicit(&ha->role, (int32_t)CTRL_STANDBY, memory_order_release);
         /* Free ctx — no vote sends will happen from this node this round. */
         atomic_store_explicit(&ha->elect_ctx, NULL, memory_order_release);
@@ -3285,8 +3284,8 @@ void ha_start_election_async(ha_state_t *ha, cluster_t *c,
     raft_start_election(&ha->raft);
 
     /* For single-node, raft_start_election fires on_become_leader synchronously.
-     * on_become_leader (raft_cb_become_leader) handles role → COMMITTING,
-     * phase2, and committing timeout.  Free the ctx here since no raft callbacks
+     * on_become_leader (raft_cb_become_leader) handles role -> CTRL_PRIMARY and
+     * phase2.  Free the ctx here since no raft callbacks
      * will reference it after raft_start_election returns for single-node. */
     if (n_peers == 1) {
         atomic_store_explicit(&ha->elect_ctx, NULL, memory_order_release);
diff --git a/src/controller/ha.h b/src/controller/ha.h
index 36ffe7fe..4aebe1f0 100644
--- a/src/controller/ha.h
+++ b/src/controller/ha.h
@@ -60,8 +60,7 @@ typedef enum {
     CTRL_PRIMARY            = 0,
     CTRL_STANDBY            = 1,
     CTRL_INIT               = 2,  /* Startup: listener open, awaiting heartbeat or election timeout */
-    CTRL_ELECTING           = 3,  /* Running quorum election via OP_requestVote */
-    CTRL_PRIMARY_COMMITTING = 4   /* Primary waiting for quorum ACK on config commit */
+    CTRL_ELECTING           = 3   /* Running quorum election via OP_requestVote */
 } ctrl_role_t;
 
 /* ── Election types ────────────────────────────────────────── */
@@ -105,8 +104,8 @@ typedef struct {
      * watchdog.  Set by ha_start_election_async after scheduling the timeout. */
     void            *timeout_ctx;      /* election_timeout_ctx_t*; NULL until watchdog scheduled */
     /* Task 4.1: cluster_t* so ha_elect_evaluate_and_signal can call
-     * cluster_init_phase2(c) and arm the committing timeout watchdog.
-     * NULL in unit tests (c=NULL bypasses phase2 and watchdog arming). */
+     * cluster_init_phase2(c).
+     * NULL in unit tests (c=NULL bypasses phase2). */
     cluster_t       *c;
     /* Task 6.3: candidate's own LSN/tag, stored unconditionally so that
      * ha_compute_safe_committed_lsn can use them even for single-node elections
@@ -128,7 +127,6 @@ typedef struct {
 #define HA_DEFAULT_MAX_PROMOTION_RETRIES     5
 #define HA_DEFAULT_ELECTION_JITTER_MAX_MS    200
 #define HA_DEFAULT_ELECTION_PRIORITY_STEP_MS 500
-#define HA_DEFAULT_COMMITTING_TIMEOUT_MS     60000
 
 typedef struct {
     uint32_t heartbeat_interval_ms;     /* Primary heartbeat send interval (min 2000 ms) */
@@ -138,7 +136,6 @@ typedef struct {
     uint32_t max_promotion_retries;     /* Max consecutive failed promotion attempts */
     uint32_t election_jitter_max_ms;    /* random jitter added to election timeout (default 200) */
     uint32_t election_priority_step_ms; /* extra ms per priority level (default 500) */
-    uint32_t committing_timeout_ms;     /* Quorum-ACK deadline for CTRL_PRIMARY_COMMITTING (default 60000) */
 } ha_config_t;
 
 /* probe_ctx_t deleted — only used by am_i_primary() (election-iomgr-refactor) */
@@ -177,14 +174,12 @@ typedef struct {
     /* ── New fields added by election-iomgr-refactor spec (Task 2.1) ── */
     void            *client_ssl_ctx;    /* SSL_CTX* (TLS_client_method); created in myapp_run */
     int              phase2_done;       /* 1 after cluster_init_phase2 runs */
-    _Atomic int      repl_ack_count;    /* count of standbys that ACKed in COMMITTING state */
     int              n_peers;           /* total cluster size (including self), matches raft convention */
     /* ── New fields added by raft-library spec (Task 6.1) ──────── */
     raft_state_t     raft;              /* Raft consensus state (wired in task 6.2) */
     /* ── New fields added by raft-library spec (Task 6.2) ──────── */
     cluster_t       *raft_c;           /* cluster_t* set by ha_start_election_async; used by raft callbacks */
     void            *raft_election_timeout_ctx; /* election_timeout_ctx_t* for cancel (task 6.2) */
-    void            *committing_timeout_ctx;     /* committing_timeout_ctx_t* for cancel on step-down */
     /* ── New fields added by ha-heartbeat-liveness spec (Task 1.1) ── */
     time_t           last_activity;    /* CLOCK_MONOTONIC seconds of last primary message; 0 = none yet */
     /* ── New fields added by ha-repl-hardening spec (Task 1.4) ──────── */
@@ -376,7 +371,7 @@ ha_repl_action_t ha_evaluate_repl_action(uint64_t standby_tag,
  * ha_process_standby_state: update per-standby convergence tracking.
  *
  * Called on each heartbeat reply from a standby while the primary is in
- * CTRL_PRIMARY_COMMITTING or CTRL_PRIMARY.  Stores the standby's reported
+ * CTRL_PRIMARY.  Stores the standby's reported
  * (config_tag, applied_lsn) and evaluates whether the standby has converged
  * with the primary's committed state.
  *
@@ -650,7 +645,7 @@ int ha_dispatch_repl_action_for_standby(ha_state_t *ha,
  * an OP_hello CtrlHelloRequest to each connected standby.
  * This triggers the existing catch-up replication path in handle_ctrlhello
  * (Req 7.2). Defined in cluster.c; called from ha_elect_evaluate_and_signal
- * in the COMMITTING path.
+ * in the post-election path.
  */
 void ha_send_ctrlhello_to_all_standbys(cluster_t *c);
 
@@ -668,7 +663,7 @@ extern int (*ha_phase2_hook)(void *c);
 
 /*
  * ha_send_ctrlhello_hook: test-only seam for ha_send_ctrlhello_to_all_standbys.
- * When non-NULL, ha_elect_evaluate_and_signal() calls this in the COMMITTING
+ * When non-NULL, ha_elect_evaluate_and_signal() calls this in the post-election
  * path instead of the real function (cluster.c not linked in test binary).
  * Requirements: 7.2.
  */
@@ -676,7 +671,7 @@ extern int (*ha_send_ctrlhello_hook)(void *c);
 
 /*
  * ha_push_config_hook: test-only seam for push_config_to_standbys.
- * When non-NULL, ha_elect_evaluate_and_signal() calls this in the COMMITTING
+ * When non-NULL, ha_elect_evaluate_and_signal() calls this in the post-election
  * path instead of the real function.  Requirements: 7.1.
  */
 extern int (*ha_push_config_hook)(void *c);
diff --git a/src/controller/testsuite/test_commit_barrier_rollout.c b/src/controller/testsuite/test_commit_barrier_rollout.c
index 1105de48..d2a3b341 100644
--- a/src/controller/testsuite/test_commit_barrier_rollout.c
+++ b/src/controller/testsuite/test_commit_barrier_rollout.c
@@ -820,7 +820,6 @@ static ha_config_t g_fg_cfg = {
     .max_promotion_retries     = 5,
     .election_jitter_max_ms    = 0,
     .election_priority_step_ms = 500,
-    .committing_timeout_ms     = 10000,
 };
 
 /* Arrange a CTRL_PRIMARY ha_state_t with n_endpoints connected standby
diff --git a/src/controller/testsuite/test_commit_engine.c b/src/controller/testsuite/test_commit_engine.c
index c2a6756c..80edd4e5 100644
--- a/src/controller/testsuite/test_commit_engine.c
+++ b/src/controller/testsuite/test_commit_engine.c
@@ -840,7 +840,6 @@ static ha_config_t g_gate_cfg = {
     .max_promotion_retries     = 5,
     .election_jitter_max_ms    = 0,
     .election_priority_step_ms = 500,
-    .committing_timeout_ms     = 10000,
 };
 
 /* Arrange a CTRL_PRIMARY ha_state_t with n_endpoints connected standby
diff --git a/src/controller/testsuite/test_ha_connection_reuse.c b/src/controller/testsuite/test_ha_connection_reuse.c
index 3af988d0..d3c35b21 100644
--- a/src/controller/testsuite/test_ha_connection_reuse.c
+++ b/src/controller/testsuite/test_ha_connection_reuse.c
@@ -175,11 +175,11 @@ static void test_dispatcher_electing_calls_vote_reply_hook(void)
     printf("test_dispatcher_electing_calls_vote_reply_hook: PASS\n");
 }
 
-/* ── Test 2 (dispatcher transitional-leader → repl_ack count) DELETED ─────────
+/* ── Test 2 (dispatcher transitional-leader ack count) DELETED ─────────
  * ha-single-leader-role task 4.1.  Subject was the deleted ack-counting
- * promotion machinery (replCatchUpDone incrementing repl_ack_count to drive a
- * transitional leader state to PRIMARY).  That path is gone — nothing left to
- * verify.  No shim (design §"Transitional-State Deletions").
+ * promotion machinery (replCatchUpDone incrementing the per-term ACK tally to
+ * drive a transitional leader state to PRIMARY).  That path is gone — nothing
+ * left to verify.  No shim (design §"Transitional-State Deletions").
  */
 
 /* ── Test 3: dispatcher drops packet for CTRL_STANDBY ───────────────────── */
@@ -477,10 +477,10 @@ static void test_follower_passive_no_outbound_connect(void)
     printf("test_follower_passive_no_outbound_connect: PASS\n");
 }
 
-/* ── Test 10 (Task 7.3: promoted ep repl_ack promotes to PRIMARY) DELETED ─────
+/* ── Test 10 (Task 7.3: promoted ep ack promotes to PRIMARY) DELETED ─────
  * ha-single-leader-role task 4.1.  Subject was the deleted ack-counting
- * promotion machinery (replCatchUpDone incrementing repl_ack_count until the
- * majority threshold promoted a transitional leader state to CTRL_PRIMARY via
+ * promotion machinery (replCatchUpDone incrementing the per-term ACK tally until
+ * the majority threshold promoted a transitional leader state to CTRL_PRIMARY via
  * ha_promote_to_primary).
  * The mechanism is gone — promotion is now the heartbeat decision loop +
  * per-entry majority ack.  Nothing left to verify; no shim (design
diff --git a/src/controller/testsuite/test_ha_role.c b/src/controller/testsuite/test_ha_role.c
index b1f83955..de6895b2 100644
--- a/src/controller/testsuite/test_ha_role.c
+++ b/src/controller/testsuite/test_ha_role.c
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ static void test_demote_sets_standby_role(void)
 
 /*
  * Verify that ha_init zeroes the new fields added for election-iomgr-refactor:
- *   phase2_done, repl_ack_count, n_peers, client_ssl_ctx
+ *   phase2_done, n_peers, client_ssl_ctx
  * and that the surviving leader role values are distinct in ctrl_role_t.
  *
  * Requirements: 5.2, 8.1 (election-iomgr-refactor spec); 1.2 (ha-single-leader-role:
@@ -171,9 +171,6 @@ static void test_ha_init_zeroes_new_fields(void)
     /* phase2_done must be explicitly zero after ha_init */
     TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT(0, ha.phase2_done);
 
-    /* repl_ack_count is _Atomic int; must be zero after ha_init */
-    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT(0, atomic_load_explicit(&ha.repl_ack_count, memory_order_relaxed));
-
     /* n_peers must be zero after ha_init */
     TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT(0, ha.n_peers);
 
diff --git a/src/controller/testsuite/test_ha_role_lifecycle.c b/src/controller/testsuite/test_ha_role_lifecycle.c
index 86246c34..18063e7a 100644
--- a/src/controller/testsuite/test_ha_role_lifecycle.c
+++ b/src/controller/testsuite/test_ha_role_lifecycle.c
@@ -755,7 +755,7 @@ static void *lifecycle_wait_thread(void *p)
  *
  * SHARED-SEQUENCE CONTRACT PIN (GREEN now, MUST STAY GREEN — not a behavioral
  * RED carrier).  After task 2.2 BOTH roads to PRIMARY (the raft become-leader
- * callback and ha_repl_ack_received's quorum path) route through this same
+ * callback and the legacy quorum-ack path) route through this same
  * ha_promote_to_primary sequence, which task 2.2 augments with the noop+gate
  * tail while KEEPING hook registration.  This case is therefore a CONTRACT/
  * REGRESSION pin proving the shared promotion sequence registers the persist
@@ -809,8 +809,8 @@ static void test_promotion_registers_persist_hooks(void)
 
 /* ── Case 4: NO WATCHDOG — promotion arms no delaymgr task (Req 1.5, 2.3).
  *
- * The shared promotion sequence must never arm a wall-clock watchdog (the
- * deleted committing_timeout_fn).  Asserted via the delaymgr task-count seam:
+ * The shared promotion sequence must never arm a wall-clock promotion watchdog
+ * (deleted in task 4.x).  Asserted via the delaymgr task-count seam:
  * the count is unchanged across ha_promote_to_primary.
  *
  * Status note (RED vs already-GREEN): the force-promotion watchdog is armed
@@ -820,8 +820,8 @@ static void test_promotion_registers_persist_hooks(void)
  * exercises — never armed a watchdog, so this case is ALREADY GREEN today and
  * stands as a regression-pin guaranteeing task 2.2's shared sequence does not
  * introduce one.  The watchdog REMOVAL from raft_cb_become_leader is covered
- * at integration scope (task 4.x deletes committing_timeout_fn and the
- * test_ha_evaluate_committing committing-timeout cases). */
+ * at integration scope (task 4.x deletes the promotion-watchdog arm and the
+ * transitional-state evaluation cases). */
 static void test_promotion_arms_no_delaymgr_watchdog(void)
 {
 #ifdef XCE_TESTING
@@ -1140,11 +1140,11 @@ static void test_legacy_and_raft_promotion_are_symmetric(void)
         "legacy road must arm the own-term gate at noop_lsn (Req 1.4, 2.1) — "
         "identical to the raft road's shared tail");
 
-    /* Symmetry axis 4: NO committing-timeout watchdog armed (Req 1.5). */
+    /* Symmetry axis 4: NO promotion watchdog armed (Req 1.5). */
     int after = delaymgr_task_count(&g_lc.delaymgr);
     TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_INT_MESSAGE(before, after,
         "legacy road must arm NO delaymgr watchdog (Req 1.5) — symmetric with "
-        "the raft road; the committing-timeout arm is deleted from this path");
+        "the raft road; the promotion-watchdog arm is deleted from this path");
 
     pthread_mutex_destroy(&ctx->lock);
     sem_destroy(&ctx->done);
diff --git a/src/lib/raft/raft.c b/src/lib/raft/raft.c
index e05f9b3f..d909a9b5 100644
--- a/src/lib/raft/raft.c
+++ b/src/lib/raft/raft.c
@@ -120,8 +120,8 @@ int raft_on_vote_request(raft_state_t *s, int from_idx, uint64_t term,
 
     /* Step 2: term upgrade — update term, clear vote, step down to FOLLOWER.
      * If we were LEADER, notify the HA FSM so it updates ha->role.
-     * Without this, the HA FSM stays in CTRL_PRIMARY_COMMITTING and
-     * eventually promotes to PRIMARY via the committing timeout → split-brain. */
+     * Without this, the HA FSM stays in CTRL_PRIMARY after losing the term,
+     * never stepping down to STANDBY → split-brain. */
     if (term > s->term) {
         int was_leader = (s->role == RAFT_LEADER);
         s->term         = term;