diff --git a/ietf/doc/tests_ballot.py b/ietf/doc/tests_ballot.py
index d72441b4a..d3954632b 100644
--- a/ietf/doc/tests_ballot.py
+++ b/ietf/doc/tests_ballot.py
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ class BallotWriteupsTests(TestCase):
         self.assertTrue('aread@' in outbox[-1]['Cc'])
 
     def test_edit_ballot_writeup(self):
-        draft = IndividualDraftFactory()
+        draft = IndividualDraftFactory(states=[('draft','active'),('draft-iesg','iesg-eva')])
         url = urlreverse('ietf.doc.views_ballot.ballot_writeupnotes', kwargs=dict(name=draft.name))
         login_testing_unauthorized(self, "secretary", url)
 
@@ -372,8 +372,32 @@ class BallotWriteupsTests(TestCase):
                 ballot_writeup="This is a simple test.",
                 save_ballot_writeup="1"))
         self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
-        draft = Document.objects.get(name=draft.name)
-        self.assertTrue("This is a simple test" in draft.latest_event(WriteupDocEvent, type="changed_ballot_writeup_text").text)
+        d = Document.objects.get(name=draft.name)
+        self.assertTrue("This is a simple test" in d.latest_event(WriteupDocEvent, type="changed_ballot_writeup_text").text)
+        self.assertTrue('iesg-eva' == d.get_state_slug('draft-iesg'))
+
+    def test_edit_ballot_writeup_already_approved(self):
+        draft = IndividualDraftFactory(states=[('draft','active'),('draft-iesg','approved')])
+        url = urlreverse('ietf.doc.views_ballot.ballot_writeupnotes', kwargs=dict(name=draft.name))
+        login_testing_unauthorized(self, "secretary", url)
+
+        # normal get
+        r = self.client.get(url)
+        self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
+        q = PyQuery(r.content)
+        self.assertEqual(len(q('textarea[name=ballot_writeup]')), 1)
+        self.assertTrue(q('[type=submit]:contains("Save")'))
+
+        # save
+        r = self.client.post(url, dict(
+                ballot_writeup="This is a simple test.",
+                save_ballot_writeup="1"))
+        self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
+        msgs = [m for m in r.context['messages']]
+        self.assertTrue(1 == len(msgs))
+        self.assertTrue("Writeup not changed" in msgs[0].message)
+        d = Document.objects.get(name=draft.name)
+        self.assertTrue('approved' == d.get_state_slug('draft-iesg'))
 
     def test_edit_ballot_rfceditornote(self):
         draft = IndividualDraftFactory()
@@ -467,6 +491,41 @@ class BallotWriteupsTests(TestCase):
                 self.assertIn('call expires', get_payload_text(outbox[-1]))
             self.client.logout()
 
+    def test_issue_ballot_auto_state_change(self):
+        ad = Person.objects.get(user__username="ad")
+        draft = IndividualDraftFactory(ad=ad, states=[('draft','active'),('draft-iesg','writeupw')])
+        url = urlreverse('ietf.doc.views_ballot.ballot_writeupnotes', kwargs=dict(name=draft.name))
+        login_testing_unauthorized(self, "secretary", url)
+
+        # normal get
+        r = self.client.get(url)
+        self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
+        q = PyQuery(r.content)
+        self.assertEqual(len(q('textarea[name=ballot_writeup]')), 1)
+        self.assertFalse(q('[class=help-block]:contains("not completed IETF Last Call")'))
+        self.assertTrue(q('[type=submit]:contains("Save")'))
+
+        # save
+        r = self.client.post(url, dict(
+                ballot_writeup="This is a simple test.",
+                issue_ballot="1"))
+        self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
+        d = Document.objects.get(name=draft.name)
+        self.assertTrue('iesg-eva' == d.get_state_slug('draft-iesg')) 
+
+    def test_issue_ballot_warn_if_early(self):
+        ad = Person.objects.get(user__username="ad")
+        draft = IndividualDraftFactory(ad=ad, states=[('draft','active'),('draft-iesg','lc')])
+        url = urlreverse('ietf.doc.views_ballot.ballot_writeupnotes', kwargs=dict(name=draft.name))
+        login_testing_unauthorized(self, "secretary", url)
+
+        # expect warning about issuing a ballot before IETF Last Call is done
+        r = self.client.get(url)
+        self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
+        q = PyQuery(r.content)
+        self.assertEqual(len(q('textarea[name=ballot_writeup]')), 1)
+        self.assertTrue(q('[class=help-block]:contains("not completed IETF Last Call")'))
+        self.assertTrue(q('[type=submit]:contains("Save")'))
 
     def test_edit_approval_text(self):
         ad = Person.objects.get(user__username="ad")
diff --git a/ietf/doc/views_ballot.py b/ietf/doc/views_ballot.py
index f8a992e14..a4693e5f2 100644
--- a/ietf/doc/views_ballot.py
+++ b/ietf/doc/views_ballot.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import datetime, json
 
 from django import forms
 from django.conf import settings
+from django.contrib import messages
 from django.http import HttpResponse, HttpResponseRedirect, Http404
 from django.shortcuts import render, get_object_or_404, redirect
 from django.template.defaultfilters import striptags
@@ -592,6 +593,7 @@ class BallotWriteupForm(forms.Form):
 def ballot_writeupnotes(request, name):
     """Editing of ballot write-up and notes"""
     doc = get_object_or_404(Document, docalias__name=name)
+    prev_state = doc.get_state("draft-iesg")
 
     login = request.user.person
 
@@ -604,61 +606,76 @@ def ballot_writeupnotes(request, name):
     if request.method == 'POST' and "save_ballot_writeup" in request.POST or "issue_ballot" in request.POST:
         form = BallotWriteupForm(request.POST)
         if form.is_valid():
-            t = form.cleaned_data["ballot_writeup"]
-            if t != existing.text:
-                e = WriteupDocEvent(doc=doc, rev=doc.rev, by=login)
-                e.by = login
-                e.type = "changed_ballot_writeup_text"
-                e.desc = "Ballot writeup was changed"
-                e.text = t
-                e.save()
-            elif existing.pk == None:
-                existing.save()
+            if prev_state.slug in ['ann', 'approved', 'rfcqueue', 'pub']:
+                ballot_already_approved = True
+                messages.warning(request, "There is an approved ballot for %s.  Writeup not changed." % doc.name)
+            else:
+                ballot_already_approved = False
+                t = form.cleaned_data["ballot_writeup"]
+                if t != existing.text:
+                    e = WriteupDocEvent(doc=doc, rev=doc.rev, by=login)
+                    e.by = login
+                    e.type = "changed_ballot_writeup_text"
+                    e.desc = "Ballot writeup was changed"
+                    e.text = t
+                    e.save()
+                elif existing.pk == None:
+                    existing.save()
 
-            if "issue_ballot" in request.POST:
-                e = create_ballot_if_not_open(request, doc, login, "approve") # pyflakes:ignore
-                ballot = doc.latest_event(BallotDocEvent, type="created_ballot")
-                if has_role(request.user, "Area Director") and not doc.latest_event(BallotPositionDocEvent, balloter=login, ballot=ballot):
-                    # sending the ballot counts as a yes
-                    pos = BallotPositionDocEvent(doc=doc, rev=doc.rev, by=login)
-                    pos.ballot = ballot
-                    pos.type = "changed_ballot_position"
-                    pos.balloter = login
-                    pos.pos_id = "yes"
-                    pos.desc = "[Ballot Position Update] New position, %s, has been recorded for %s" % (pos.pos.name, pos.balloter.plain_name())
-                    pos.save()
+            if "issue_ballot" in request.POST and not ballot_already_approved:
+                if prev_state.slug in ['watching', 'writeupw', 'goaheadw']:
+                    new_state = State.objects.get(used=True, type="draft-iesg", slug='iesg-eva')
+                    prev_tags = doc.tags.filter(slug__in=IESG_SUBSTATE_TAGS)
+                    doc.set_state(new_state)
+                    doc.tags.remove(*prev_tags)
 
-                    # Consider mailing this position to 'iesg_ballot_saved'
+                    sce = add_state_change_event(doc, login, prev_state, new_state, prev_tags=prev_tags, new_tags=[])
+                    if sce:
+                        doc.save_with_history([sce])
 
-                approval = doc.latest_event(WriteupDocEvent, type="changed_ballot_approval_text")
-                if not approval:
-                    approval = generate_approval_mail(request, doc)
-                    approval.save()
+                if not ballot_already_approved:
+                    e = create_ballot_if_not_open(request, doc, login, "approve") # pyflakes:ignore
+                    ballot = doc.latest_event(BallotDocEvent, type="created_ballot")
+                    if has_role(request.user, "Area Director") and not doc.latest_event(BallotPositionDocEvent, balloter=login, ballot=ballot):
+                        # sending the ballot counts as a yes
+                        pos = BallotPositionDocEvent(doc=doc, rev=doc.rev, by=login)
+                        pos.ballot = ballot
+                        pos.type = "changed_ballot_position"
+                        pos.balloter = login
+                        pos.pos_id = "yes"
+                        pos.desc = "[Ballot Position Update] New position, %s, has been recorded for %s" % (pos.pos.name, pos.balloter.plain_name())
+                        pos.save()
 
-                msg = generate_issue_ballot_mail(request, doc, ballot)
+                        # Consider mailing this position to 'iesg_ballot_saved'
 
-                addrs = gather_address_lists('iesg_ballot_issued',doc=doc).as_strings()
-                override = {'To':addrs.to}
-                if addrs.cc:
-                    override['CC'] = addrs.cc
-                send_mail_preformatted(request, msg, override=override)
+                    approval = doc.latest_event(WriteupDocEvent, type="changed_ballot_approval_text")
+                    if not approval:
+                        approval = generate_approval_mail(request, doc)
+                        approval.save()
 
-                addrs = gather_address_lists('ballot_issued_iana',doc=doc).as_strings()
-                override={ "To": "IANA <%s>"%settings.IANA_EVAL_EMAIL, "Bcc": None , "Reply-To": []}
-                if addrs.cc:
-                    override['CC'] = addrs.cc
-                send_mail_preformatted(request, msg, extra=extra_automation_headers(doc), override=override)
+                    msg = generate_issue_ballot_mail(request, doc, ballot)
 
-                e = DocEvent(doc=doc, rev=doc.rev, by=login)
-                e.by = login
-                e.type = "sent_ballot_announcement"
-                e.desc = "Ballot has been issued"
-                e.save()
+                    addrs = gather_address_lists('iesg_ballot_issued',doc=doc).as_strings()
+                    override = {'To':addrs.to}
+                    if addrs.cc:
+                        override['CC'] = addrs.cc
+                    send_mail_preformatted(request, msg, override=override)
 
-                return render(request, 'doc/ballot/ballot_issued.html',
-                                          dict(doc=doc,
-                                               back_url=doc.get_absolute_url()))
-                        
+                    addrs = gather_address_lists('ballot_issued_iana',doc=doc).as_strings()
+                    override={ "To": "IANA <%s>"%settings.IANA_EVAL_EMAIL, "Bcc": None , "Reply-To": []}
+                    if addrs.cc:
+                        override['CC'] = addrs.cc
+                    send_mail_preformatted(request, msg, extra=extra_automation_headers(doc), override=override)
+
+                    e = DocEvent(doc=doc, rev=doc.rev, by=login)
+                    e.by = login
+                    e.type = "sent_ballot_announcement"
+                    e.desc = "Ballot has been issued"
+                    e.save()
+
+                    return render(request, 'doc/ballot/ballot_issued.html',
+                                              dict(doc=doc,
+                                                   back_url=doc.get_absolute_url()))
 
     need_intended_status = ""
     if not doc.intended_std_level:
@@ -668,6 +685,7 @@ def ballot_writeupnotes(request, name):
                               dict(doc=doc,
                                    back_url=doc.get_absolute_url(),
                                    ballot_issued=bool(doc.latest_event(type="sent_ballot_announcement")),
+                                   ballot_issue_danger=bool(prev_state.slug in ['ad-eval', 'lc']),
                                    ballot_writeup_form=form,
                                    need_intended_status=need_intended_status,
                                    ))
diff --git a/ietf/submit/tests.py b/ietf/submit/tests.py
index 07beee539..058819489 100644
--- a/ietf/submit/tests.py
+++ b/ietf/submit/tests.py
@@ -1903,6 +1903,9 @@ class ApiSubmitTests(TestCase):
         data['xml'], author = submission_file(name, rev, group, 'xml', "test_submission.xml", author=author, email=email, title=title, year=year)
         data['user'] = email
         r = self.client.post(url, data)
+        debug.show('url')
+        debug.show('r')
+        debug.show('r.content')
         return r, author, name
 
     def test_api_submit_info(self):
diff --git a/ietf/templates/doc/ballot/writeupnotes.html b/ietf/templates/doc/ballot/writeupnotes.html
index 229096e91..d18f2d676 100644
--- a/ietf/templates/doc/ballot/writeupnotes.html
+++ b/ietf/templates/doc/ballot/writeupnotes.html
@@ -17,11 +17,15 @@
 
     <div class="help-block">
       Technical summary, Working Group summary, document quality, personnel, IRTF note, IESG note, IANA note. This text will be appended to all announcements and messages to the IRTF or RFC Editor.
+
+      {% if ballot_issue_danger %}
+        <p class="text-danger">This document has not completed IETF Last Call.  Please do not issue the ballot early without good reason.</p>
+      {% endif %}
     </div>
 
     {% buttons %}
       <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary" name="save_ballot_writeup" value="Save Ballot Writeup">Save</button>
-      <button type="submit" class="btn btn-warning" name="issue_ballot" value="Save and Issue Ballot">Save & {% if ballot_issued %}re-{% endif %}issue ballot</button>
+      <button type="submit" class={% if ballot_issue_danger %}"btn btn-danger"{% else %}"btn btn-warning"{% endif %} name="issue_ballot" value="Save and Issue Ballot">Save & {% if ballot_issued %}re-{% endif %}issue ballot</button>
     {% endbuttons %}
   </form>