diff --git a/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md b/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md
index f2452a37d..ea8edc15b 100644
--- a/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md
+++ b/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md
@@ -61,6 +61,10 @@
         - [`is_active_validator`](#is_active_validator)
         - [`is_slashable_validator`](#is_slashable_validator)
         - [`get_active_validator_indices`](#get_active_validator_indices)
+        - [`get_balance`](#get_balance)
+        - [`set_balance`](#set_balance)
+        - [`increase_balance`](#increase_balance)
+        - [`decrease_balance`](#decrease_balance)
         - [`get_permuted_index`](#get_permuted_index)
         - [`get_split_offset`](#get_split_offset)
         - [`get_epoch_committee_count`](#get_epoch_committee_count)
@@ -116,7 +120,7 @@
             - [Helper functions](#helper-functions-1)
             - [Justification](#justification)
             - [Crosslinks](#crosslinks)
-            - [Eth1 data](#eth1-data-1)
+            - [Eth1 data](#eth1-data)
             - [Rewards and penalties](#rewards-and-penalties)
                 - [Justification and finalization](#justification-and-finalization)
                 - [Crosslinks](#crosslinks-1)
@@ -129,7 +133,7 @@
         - [Per-block processing](#per-block-processing)
             - [Block header](#block-header)
             - [RANDAO](#randao)
-            - [Eth1 data](#eth1-data)
+            - [Eth1 data](#eth1-data-1)
             - [Transactions](#transactions)
                 - [Proposer slashings](#proposer-slashings)
                 - [Attester slashings](#attester-slashings)
@@ -183,7 +187,7 @@ Code snippets appearing in `this style` are to be interpreted as Python code.
 | `SHARD_COUNT` | `2**10` (= 1,024) |
 | `TARGET_COMMITTEE_SIZE` | `2**7` (= 128) |
 | `MAX_BALANCE_CHURN_QUOTIENT` | `2**5` (= 32) |
-| `MAX_INDICES_PER_SLASHABLE_VOTE` | `2**12` (= 4,096) |
+| `MAX_SLASHABLE_ATTESTATION_PARTICIPANTS` | `2**12` (= 4,096) |
 | `MAX_EXIT_DEQUEUES_PER_EPOCH` | `2**2` (= 4) |
 | `SHUFFLE_ROUND_COUNT` | 90 |
 
@@ -202,8 +206,8 @@ Code snippets appearing in `this style` are to be interpreted as Python code.
 | - | - | :-: |
 | `MIN_DEPOSIT_AMOUNT` | `2**0 * 10**9` (= 1,000,000,000) | Gwei |
 | `MAX_DEPOSIT_AMOUNT` | `2**5 * 10**9` (= 32,000,000,000) | Gwei |
-| `FORK_CHOICE_BALANCE_INCREMENT` | `2**0 * 10**9` (= 1,000,000,000) | Gwei |
 | `EJECTION_BALANCE` | `2**4 * 10**9` (= 16,000,000,000) | Gwei |
+| `HIGH_BALANCE_INCREMENT` | `2**0 * 10**9` (= 1,000,000,000) | Gwei |
 
 ### Initial values
 
@@ -253,7 +257,7 @@ Code snippets appearing in `this style` are to be interpreted as Python code.
 | `MIN_PENALTY_QUOTIENT` | `2**5` (= 32) |
 
 * The `BASE_REWARD_QUOTIENT` parameter dictates the per-epoch reward. It corresponds to ~2.54% annual interest assuming 10 million participating ETH in every epoch.
-* The `INACTIVITY_PENALTY_QUOTIENT` equals `INVERSE_SQRT_E_DROP_TIME**2` where `INVERSE_SQRT_E_DROP_TIME := 2**12 epochs` (~18 days) is the time it takes the inactivity penalty to reduce the balance of non-participating [validators](#dfn-validator) to about `1/sqrt(e) ~= 60.6%`. Indeed, the balance retained by offline [validators](#dfn-validator) after `n` epochs is about `(1-1/INACTIVITY_PENALTY_QUOTIENT)**(n**2/2)` so after `INVERSE_SQRT_E_DROP_TIME` epochs it is roughly `(1-1/INACTIVITY_PENALTY_QUOTIENT)**(INACTIVITY_PENALTY_QUOTIENT/2) ~= 1/sqrt(e)`.
+* The `INACTIVITY_PENALTY_QUOTIENT` equals `INVERSE_SQRT_E_DROP_TIME**2` where `INVERSE_SQRT_E_DROP_TIME := 2**12 epochs` (~18 days) is the time it takes the inactivity penalty to reduce the balance of non-participating [validators](#dfn-validator) to about `1/sqrt(e) ~= 60.6%`. Indeed, the balance retained by offline [validators](#dfn-validator) after `n` epochs is about `(1 - 1/INACTIVITY_PENALTY_QUOTIENT)**(n**2/2)` so after `INVERSE_SQRT_E_DROP_TIME` epochs it is roughly `(1 - 1/INACTIVITY_PENALTY_QUOTIENT)**(INACTIVITY_PENALTY_QUOTIENT/2) ~= 1/sqrt(e)`.
 
 
 ### Max transactions per block
@@ -417,7 +421,6 @@ The types are defined topologically to aid in facilitating an executable version
     'signature': 'bytes96',
 }
 ```
-
 #### `Validator`
 
 ```python
@@ -436,6 +439,8 @@ The types are defined topologically to aid in facilitating an executable version
     'initiated_exit': 'bool',
     # Was the validator slashed
     'slashed': 'bool',
+    # Rounded balance
+    'high_balance': 'uint64'
 }
 ```
 
@@ -596,7 +601,7 @@ The types are defined topologically to aid in facilitating an executable version
 
     # Validator registry
     'validator_registry': [Validator],
-    'validator_balances': ['uint64'],
+    'balances': ['uint64'],
     'validator_registry_update_epoch': 'uint64',
 
     # Randomness and committees
@@ -762,12 +767,45 @@ def get_active_validator_indices(validators: List[Validator], epoch: Epoch) -> L
     return [i for i, v in enumerate(validators) if is_active_validator(v, epoch)]
 ```
 
+### `get_balance`
+
+```python
+def get_balance(state: BeaconState, index: int) -> int:
+    return state.balances[index]
+```
+
+### `set_balance`
+
+```python
+def set_balance(state: BeaconState, index: int, balance: int) -> None:
+    validator = state.validator_registry[index]
+    HALF_INCREMENT = HIGH_BALANCE_INCREMENT // 2
+    if validator.high_balance > balance or validator.high_balance + 3 * HALF_INCREMENT < balance:
+        validator.high_balance = balance - balance % HIGH_BALANCE_INCREMENT
+    state.balances[index] = balance
+```
+
+### `increase_balance`
+
+```python
+def increase_balance(state: BeaconState, index: int, delta: int) -> None:
+    set_balance(state, index, get_balance(state, index) + delta)
+```
+
+### `decrease_balance`
+
+```python
+def decrease_balance(state: BeaconState, index: int, delta: int) -> None:
+    cur_balance = get_balance(state, index)
+    set_balance(state, index, cur_balance - delta if cur_balance >= delta else 0)
+```
+
 ### `get_permuted_index`
 
 ```python
 def get_permuted_index(index: int, list_size: int, seed: Bytes32) -> int:
     """
-    Return `p(index)` in a pseudorandom permutation `p` of `0...list_size-1` with ``seed`` as entropy.
+    Return `p(index)` in a pseudorandom permutation `p` of `0...list_size - 1` with ``seed`` as entropy.
 
     Utilizes 'swap or not' shuffling found in
     https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2F978-3-642-32009-5_1.pdf
@@ -791,8 +829,12 @@ def get_permuted_index(index: int, list_size: int, seed: Bytes32) -> int:
 ### `get_split_offset`
 
 ```python
-def get_split_offset(list_length: int, split_count: int, index: int) -> int:
-    return (list_length * index) // split_count
+def get_split_offset(list_size: int, chunks: int, index: int) -> int:
+  """
+  Returns a value such that for a list L, chunk count k and index i,
+  split(L, k)[i] == L[get_split_offset(len(L), k, i): get_split_offset(len(L), k, i+1)]
+  """
+  return (list_size * index) // chunks
 ```
 
 ### `get_epoch_committee_count`
@@ -1091,7 +1133,7 @@ def get_effective_balance(state: BeaconState, index: ValidatorIndex) -> Gwei:
     """
     Return the effective balance (also known as "balance at stake") for a validator with the given ``index``.
     """
-    return min(state.validator_balances[index], MAX_DEPOSIT_AMOUNT)
+    return min(get_balance(state, index), MAX_DEPOSIT_AMOUNT)
 ```
 
 ### `get_total_balance`
@@ -1168,7 +1210,7 @@ def verify_slashable_attestation(state: BeaconState, slashable_attestation: Slas
     if slashable_attestation.custody_bitfield != b'\x00' * len(slashable_attestation.custody_bitfield):  # [TO BE REMOVED IN PHASE 1]
         return False
 
-    if len(slashable_attestation.validator_indices) == 0:
+    if not (1 <= len(slashable_attestation.validator_indices) <= MAX_SLASHABLE_ATTESTATION_PARTICIPANTS):
         return False
 
     for i in range(len(slashable_attestation.validator_indices) - 1):
@@ -1178,9 +1220,6 @@ def verify_slashable_attestation(state: BeaconState, slashable_attestation: Slas
     if not verify_bitfield(slashable_attestation.custody_bitfield, len(slashable_attestation.validator_indices)):
         return False
 
-    if len(slashable_attestation.validator_indices) > MAX_INDICES_PER_SLASHABLE_VOTE:
-        return False
-
     custody_bit_0_indices = []
     custody_bit_1_indices = []
     for i, validator_index in enumerate(slashable_attestation.validator_indices):
@@ -1335,14 +1374,17 @@ def process_deposit(state: BeaconState, deposit: Deposit) -> None:
             withdrawable_epoch=FAR_FUTURE_EPOCH,
             initiated_exit=False,
             slashed=False,
+            high_balance=0
         )
 
         # Note: In phase 2 registry indices that have been withdrawn for a long time will be recycled.
         state.validator_registry.append(validator)
-        state.validator_balances.append(amount)
+        state.balances.append(0)
+        set_balance(state, len(state.validator_registry) - 1, amount)
     else:
         # Increase balance by deposit amount
-        state.validator_balances[validator_pubkeys.index(pubkey)] += amount
+        index = validator_pubkeys.index(pubkey)
+        increase_balance(state, index, amount)
 ```
 
 ### Routines for updating validator status
@@ -1403,8 +1445,8 @@ def slash_validator(state: BeaconState, index: ValidatorIndex) -> None:
 
     whistleblower_index = get_beacon_proposer_index(state, state.slot)
     whistleblower_reward = get_effective_balance(state, index) // WHISTLEBLOWER_REWARD_QUOTIENT
-    state.validator_balances[whistleblower_index] += whistleblower_reward
-    state.validator_balances[index] -= whistleblower_reward
+    increase_balance(state, whistleblower_index, whistleblower_reward)
+    decrease_balance(state, index, whistleblower_reward)
     validator.slashed = True
     validator.withdrawable_epoch = get_current_epoch(state) + LATEST_SLASHED_EXIT_LENGTH 
 ```
@@ -1525,7 +1567,7 @@ def get_genesis_beacon_state(genesis_validator_deposits: List[Deposit],
 
         # Validator registry
         validator_registry=[],
-        validator_balances=[],
+        balances=[],
         validator_registry_update_epoch=GENESIS_EPOCH,
 
         # Randomness and committees
@@ -1640,9 +1682,12 @@ def lmd_ghost(store: Store, start_state: BeaconState, start_block: BeaconBlock)
         for validator_index in active_validator_indices
     ]
 
+    # Use the rounded-balance-with-hysteresis supplied by the protocol for fork
+    # choice voting. This reduces the number of recomputations that need to be
+    # made for optimized implementations that precompute and save data
     def get_vote_count(block: BeaconBlock) -> int:
         return sum(
-            get_effective_balance(start_state.validator_balances[validator_index]) // FORK_CHOICE_BALANCE_INCREMENT
+            start_state.validator_registry[validator_index].high_balance
             for validator_index, target in attestation_targets
             if get_ancestor(store, target, block.slot) == block
         )
@@ -2033,10 +2078,10 @@ def apply_rewards(state: BeaconState) -> None:
     deltas1 = get_justification_and_finalization_deltas(state)
     deltas2 = get_crosslink_deltas(state)
     for i in range(len(state.validator_registry)):
-        state.validator_balances[i] = max(
+        set_balance(state, i, max(
             0,
-            state.validator_balances[i] + deltas1[0][i] + deltas2[0][i] - deltas1[1][i] - deltas2[1][i]
-        )
+            get_balance(state, i) + deltas1[0][i] + deltas2[0][i] - deltas1[1][i] - deltas2[1][i]
+        ))
 ```
 
 #### Ejections
@@ -2050,7 +2095,7 @@ def process_ejections(state: BeaconState) -> None:
     and eject active validators with balance below ``EJECTION_BALANCE``.
     """
     for index in get_active_validator_indices(state.validator_registry, get_current_epoch(state)):
-        if state.validator_balances[index] < EJECTION_BALANCE:
+        if get_balance(state, index) < EJECTION_BALANCE:
             initiate_validator_exit(state, index)
 ```
 
@@ -2093,7 +2138,7 @@ def update_validator_registry(state: BeaconState) -> None:
     # Activate validators within the allowable balance churn
     balance_churn = 0
     for index, validator in enumerate(state.validator_registry):
-        if validator.activation_epoch == FAR_FUTURE_EPOCH and state.validator_balances[index] >= MAX_DEPOSIT_AMOUNT:
+        if validator.activation_epoch == FAR_FUTURE_EPOCH and get_balance(state, index) >= MAX_DEPOSIT_AMOUNT:
             # Check the balance churn would be within the allowance
             balance_churn += get_effective_balance(state, index)
             if balance_churn > max_balance_churn:
@@ -2178,7 +2223,7 @@ def process_slashings(state: BeaconState) -> None:
                 get_effective_balance(state, index) * min(total_penalties * 3, total_balance) // total_balance,
                 get_effective_balance(state, index) // MIN_PENALTY_QUOTIENT
             )
-            state.validator_balances[index] -= penalty
+            decrease_balance(state, index, penalty)
 ```
 
 ```python
@@ -2484,12 +2529,12 @@ def process_transfer(state: BeaconState, transfer: Transfer) -> None:
     Note that this function mutates ``state``.
     """
     # Verify the amount and fee aren't individually too big (for anti-overflow purposes)
-    assert state.validator_balances[transfer.sender] >= max(transfer.amount, transfer.fee)
+    assert get_balance(state, transfer.sender) >= max(transfer.amount, transfer.fee)
     # Verify that we have enough ETH to send, and that after the transfer the balance will be either
     # exactly zero or at least MIN_DEPOSIT_AMOUNT
     assert (
-        state.validator_balances[transfer.sender] == transfer.amount + transfer.fee or
-        state.validator_balances[transfer.sender] >= transfer.amount + transfer.fee + MIN_DEPOSIT_AMOUNT
+        get_balance(state, transfer.sender) == transfer.amount + transfer.fee or
+        get_balance(state, transfer.sender) >= transfer.amount + transfer.fee + MIN_DEPOSIT_AMOUNT
     )
     # A transfer is valid in only one slot
     assert state.slot == transfer.slot
@@ -2511,9 +2556,9 @@ def process_transfer(state: BeaconState, transfer: Transfer) -> None:
         domain=get_domain(state.fork, slot_to_epoch(transfer.slot), DOMAIN_TRANSFER)
     )
     # Process the transfer
-    state.validator_balances[transfer.sender] -= transfer.amount + transfer.fee
-    state.validator_balances[transfer.recipient] += transfer.amount
-    state.validator_balances[get_beacon_proposer_index(state, state.slot)] += transfer.fee
+    decrease_balance(state, transfer.sender, transfer.amount + transfer.fee)
+    increase_balance(state, transfer.recipient, transfer.amount)
+    increase_balance(state, get_beacon_proposer_index(state, state.slot), transfer.fee)
 ```
 
 #### State root verification
diff --git a/specs/core/1_shard-data-chains.md b/specs/core/1_shard-data-chains.md
index c76f9ba08..92cee4d19 100644
--- a/specs/core/1_shard-data-chains.md
+++ b/specs/core/1_shard-data-chains.md
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ At the current stage, Phase 1, while fundamentally feature-complete, is still su
             - [Signature domains](#signature-domains)
 - [Shard chains and crosslink data](#shard-chains-and-crosslink-data)
     - [Helper functions](#helper-functions)
-            - [`get_split_offset`](#get_split_offset)
             - [`get_shuffled_committee`](#get_shuffled_committee)
             - [`get_persistent_committee`](#get_persistent_committee)
             - [`get_shard_proposer_index`](#get_shard_proposer_index)
@@ -122,17 +121,6 @@ Phase 1 depends upon all of the constants defined in [Phase 0](0_beacon-chain.md
 
 ## Helper functions
 
-#### `get_split_offset`
-
-````python
-def get_split_offset(list_size: int, chunks: int, index: int) -> int:
-  """
-  Returns a value such that for a list L, chunk count k and index i,
-  split(L, k)[i] == L[get_split_offset(len(L), k, i): get_split_offset(len(L), k, i+1)]
-  """
-  return (list_size * index) // chunks
-````
-
 #### `get_shuffled_committee`
 
 ```python
diff --git a/tests/phase0/block_processing/test_process_block_header.py b/tests/phase0/block_processing/test_process_block_header.py
index 4ec7e336f..4981b656c 100644
--- a/tests/phase0/block_processing/test_process_block_header.py
+++ b/tests/phase0/block_processing/test_process_block_header.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import pytest
 
 from build.phase0.spec import (
     get_beacon_proposer_index,
+    cache_state,
+    advance_slot,
     process_block_header,
 )
 from tests.phase0.helpers import (
@@ -14,13 +16,56 @@ from tests.phase0.helpers import (
 pytestmark = pytest.mark.header
 
 
+def prepare_state_for_header_processing(state):
+    cache_state(state)
+    advance_slot(state)
+
+
+def run_block_header_processing(state, block, valid=True):
+    """
+    Run ``process_block_header`` returning the pre and post state.
+    If ``valid == False``, run expecting ``AssertionError``
+    """
+    prepare_state_for_header_processing(state)
+    post_state = deepcopy(state)
+
+    if not valid:
+        with pytest.raises(AssertionError):
+            process_block_header(post_state, block)
+        return state, None
+
+    process_block_header(post_state, block)
+    return state, post_state
+
+
+def test_success(state):
+    block = build_empty_block_for_next_slot(state)
+    pre_state, post_state = run_block_header_processing(state, block)
+    return state, block, post_state
+
+
+def test_invalid_slot(state):
+    block = build_empty_block_for_next_slot(state)
+    block.slot = state.slot + 2  # invalid slot
+
+    pre_state, post_state = run_block_header_processing(state, block, valid=False)
+    return pre_state, block, None
+
+
+def test_invalid_previous_block_root(state):
+    block = build_empty_block_for_next_slot(state)
+    block.previous_block_root = b'\12'*32  # invalid prev root
+
+    pre_state, post_state = run_block_header_processing(state, block, valid=False)
+    return pre_state, block, None
+
+
 def test_proposer_slashed(state):
-    pre_state = deepcopy(state)
+    # set proposer to slashed
+    proposer_index = get_beacon_proposer_index(state, state.slot + 1)
+    state.validator_registry[proposer_index].slashed = True
 
-    block = build_empty_block_for_next_slot(pre_state)
-    proposer_index = get_beacon_proposer_index(pre_state, block.slot)
-    pre_state.validator_registry[proposer_index].slashed = True
-    with pytest.raises(AssertionError):
-        process_block_header(pre_state, block)
+    block = build_empty_block_for_next_slot(state)
 
-    return state, [block], None
+    pre_state, post_state = run_block_header_processing(state, block, valid=False)
+    return pre_state, block, None
diff --git a/tests/phase0/block_processing/test_process_deposit.py b/tests/phase0/block_processing/test_process_deposit.py
index 297ad37f1..9f1b6add6 100644
--- a/tests/phase0/block_processing/test_process_deposit.py
+++ b/tests/phase0/block_processing/test_process_deposit.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import build.phase0.spec as spec
 
 from build.phase0.spec import (
     Deposit,
+    get_balance,
     process_deposit,
 )
 from tests.phase0.helpers import (
@@ -38,8 +39,9 @@ def test_success(state, deposit_data_leaves, pubkeys, privkeys):
     process_deposit(post_state, deposit)
 
     assert len(post_state.validator_registry) == len(state.validator_registry) + 1
-    assert len(post_state.validator_balances) == len(state.validator_balances) + 1
+    assert len(post_state.balances) == len(state.balances) + 1
     assert post_state.validator_registry[index].pubkey == pubkeys[index]
+    assert get_balance(post_state, index) == spec.MAX_DEPOSIT_AMOUNT
     assert post_state.deposit_index == post_state.latest_eth1_data.deposit_count
 
     return pre_state, deposit, post_state
@@ -62,16 +64,16 @@ def test_success_top_up(state, deposit_data_leaves, pubkeys, privkeys):
 
     pre_state.latest_eth1_data.deposit_root = root
     pre_state.latest_eth1_data.deposit_count = len(deposit_data_leaves)
-    pre_balance = pre_state.validator_balances[validator_index]
+    pre_balance = get_balance(pre_state, validator_index)
 
     post_state = deepcopy(pre_state)
 
     process_deposit(post_state, deposit)
 
     assert len(post_state.validator_registry) == len(state.validator_registry)
-    assert len(post_state.validator_balances) == len(state.validator_balances)
+    assert len(post_state.balances) == len(state.balances)
     assert post_state.deposit_index == post_state.latest_eth1_data.deposit_count
-    assert post_state.validator_balances[validator_index] == pre_balance + amount
+    assert get_balance(post_state, validator_index) == pre_balance + amount
 
     return pre_state, deposit, post_state
 
diff --git a/tests/phase0/test_sanity.py b/tests/phase0/test_sanity.py
index 91bd9fe7a..ec03fb355 100644
--- a/tests/phase0/test_sanity.py
+++ b/tests/phase0/test_sanity.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from build.phase0.spec import (
     # functions
     get_active_validator_indices,
     get_attestation_participants,
+    get_balance,
     get_block_root,
     get_crosslink_committees_at_slot,
     get_current_epoch,
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ from build.phase0.spec import (
     get_state_root,
     advance_slot,
     cache_state,
+    set_balance,
     verify_merkle_branch,
     hash,
 )
@@ -168,7 +170,7 @@ def test_proposer_slashing(state, pubkeys, privkeys):
     assert slashed_validator.exit_epoch < spec.FAR_FUTURE_EPOCH
     assert slashed_validator.withdrawable_epoch < spec.FAR_FUTURE_EPOCH
     # lost whistleblower reward
-    assert test_state.validator_balances[validator_index] < state.validator_balances[validator_index]
+    assert get_balance(test_state, validator_index) < get_balance(state, validator_index)
 
     return state, [block], test_state
 
@@ -203,7 +205,8 @@ def test_deposit_in_block(state, deposit_data_leaves, pubkeys, privkeys):
 
     state_transition(post_state, block)
     assert len(post_state.validator_registry) == len(state.validator_registry) + 1
-    assert len(post_state.validator_balances) == len(state.validator_balances) + 1
+    assert len(post_state.balances) == len(state.balances) + 1
+    assert get_balance(post_state, index) == spec.MAX_DEPOSIT_AMOUNT
     assert post_state.validator_registry[index].pubkey == pubkeys[index]
 
     return pre_state, [block], post_state
@@ -238,12 +241,12 @@ def test_deposit_top_up(state, pubkeys, privkeys, deposit_data_leaves):
     block = build_empty_block_for_next_slot(pre_state)
     block.body.deposits.append(deposit)
 
-    pre_balance = pre_state.validator_balances[validator_index]
+    pre_balance = get_balance(pre_state, validator_index)
     post_state = deepcopy(pre_state)
     state_transition(post_state, block)
     assert len(post_state.validator_registry) == len(pre_state.validator_registry)
-    assert len(post_state.validator_balances) == len(pre_state.validator_balances)
-    assert post_state.validator_balances[validator_index] == pre_balance + amount
+    assert len(post_state.balances) == len(pre_state.balances)
+    assert get_balance(post_state, validator_index) == pre_balance + amount
 
     return pre_state, [block], post_state
 
@@ -412,8 +415,8 @@ def test_transfer(state, pubkeys, privkeys):
     recipient_index = get_active_validator_indices(pre_state.validator_registry, current_epoch)[0]
     transfer_pubkey = pubkeys[-1]
     transfer_privkey = privkeys[-1]
-    amount = pre_state.validator_balances[sender_index]
-    pre_transfer_recipient_balance = pre_state.validator_balances[recipient_index]
+    amount = get_balance(pre_state, sender_index)
+    pre_transfer_recipient_balance = get_balance(pre_state, recipient_index)
     transfer = Transfer(
         sender=sender_index,
         recipient=recipient_index,
@@ -448,8 +451,8 @@ def test_transfer(state, pubkeys, privkeys):
     block.body.transfers.append(transfer)
     state_transition(post_state, block)
 
-    sender_balance = post_state.validator_balances[sender_index]
-    recipient_balance = post_state.validator_balances[recipient_index]
+    sender_balance = get_balance(post_state, sender_index)
+    recipient_balance = get_balance(post_state, recipient_index)
     assert sender_balance == 0
     assert recipient_balance == pre_transfer_recipient_balance + amount
 
@@ -465,7 +468,7 @@ def test_ejection(state):
     assert pre_state.validator_registry[validator_index].exit_epoch == spec.FAR_FUTURE_EPOCH
 
     # set validator balance to below ejection threshold
-    pre_state.validator_balances[validator_index] = spec.EJECTION_BALANCE - 1
+    set_balance(pre_state, validator_index, spec.EJECTION_BALANCE - 1)
 
     post_state = deepcopy(pre_state)
     #