Actors who provide voices for video game characters will vote on whether to accept a new contract with producers that increases wages but does not pay residuals on the most popular games.

The Screen Actors Guild national board voted Wednesday to hold a referendum on the contract, which was previously rejected by its executive committee. Ballots will be mailed to the approximately 1,900 SAG members who work in video games.

Actors currently are paid a minimum of $556 per four-hour work session and are often required to voice more than one character per session. The new 3 1/2-year agreement would increase the rate to $759 by 2008, with an immediate 25 percent increase to $695.