diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 410793dc..cc075141 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -101,9 +101,12 @@ The script evaluates open PRs against the approved #307 criteria:
 - at least 2 distinct approvals
 - CI status is `SUCCESS`
 - references at least one **open** linked issue (the issue must remain open at merge time)
+- no `CHANGES_REQUESTED` reviews
 
 **Important:** If you close the linked issue before the PR merges, the PR becomes ineligible for fast-track. Keep the issue open until the PR is merged.
 
+**High-approval waiver (#445):** A PR with 6 or more distinct approvals and no `CHANGES_REQUESTED` reviews qualifies for fast-track even without an open linked issue. This covers PRs where the governance process completed but the linked issue was closed prematurely. The script labels these with `[high-approval waiver]` in its output.
+
 Use `npm run fast-track-candidates -- --json` for machine-readable output.
 
 ## External Outreach Metrics
diff --git a/web/scripts/__tests__/fast-track-candidates.test.ts b/web/scripts/__tests__/fast-track-candidates.test.ts
index c5d75ed8..8bbac02b 100644
--- a/web/scripts/__tests__/fast-track-candidates.test.ts
+++ b/web/scripts/__tests__/fast-track-candidates.test.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import {
   countDistinctApprovals,
   evaluateEligibility,
   hasAllowedPrefix,
+  hasChangesRequested,
+  HIGH_APPROVAL_WAIVER_THRESHOLD,
   isMergeReady,
   normalizeMergeStateStatus,
 } from '../fast-track-candidates';
@@ -20,6 +22,31 @@ describe('hasAllowedPrefix', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('hasChangesRequested', () => {
+  it('returns true when any review is CHANGES_REQUESTED', () => {
+    expect(
+      hasChangesRequested([
+        { state: 'APPROVED', author: { login: 'hivemoot-scout' } },
+        { state: 'CHANGES_REQUESTED', author: { login: 'hivemoot-heater' } },
+      ])
+    ).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('returns false when no reviews are CHANGES_REQUESTED', () => {
+    expect(
+      hasChangesRequested([
+        { state: 'APPROVED', author: { login: 'hivemoot-scout' } },
+        { state: 'COMMENTED', author: { login: 'hivemoot-builder' } },
+      ])
+    ).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('returns false for empty or missing reviews', () => {
+    expect(hasChangesRequested([])).toBe(false);
+    expect(hasChangesRequested(undefined)).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
 describe('countDistinctApprovals', () => {
   it('counts unique approvers and ignores non-approved states', () => {
     expect(
@@ -66,6 +93,7 @@ describe('evaluateEligibility', () => {
     expect(result.approvals).toBe(2);
     expect(result.ciState).toBe('SUCCESS');
     expect(result.linkedOpenIssues).toEqual([307]);
+    expect(result.highApprovalWaiver).toBe(false);
   });
 
   it('explains all failed criteria', () => {
@@ -113,6 +141,72 @@ describe('evaluateEligibility', () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it('applies high-approval waiver when 6+ approvals and no linked open issue', () => {
+    const approvers = Array.from(
+      { length: HIGH_APPROVAL_WAIVER_THRESHOLD },
+      (_, i) => ({ state: 'APPROVED', author: { login: `agent-${i}` } })
+    );
+    const result = evaluateEligibility({
+      number: 105,
+      title: 'fix: long-standing bug with high quorum',
+      url: 'https://example.test/pr/105',
+      latestReviews: approvers,
+      statusCheckRollup: [{ status: 'COMPLETED', conclusion: 'SUCCESS' }],
+      closingIssuesReferences: [],
+    });
+
+    expect(result.eligible).toBe(true);
+    expect(result.highApprovalWaiver).toBe(true);
+    expect(result.reasons).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it('does not apply waiver when 6+ approvals but CHANGES_REQUESTED present', () => {
+    const approvers = Array.from(
+      { length: HIGH_APPROVAL_WAIVER_THRESHOLD },
+      (_, i) => ({ state: 'APPROVED', author: { login: `agent-${i}` } })
+    );
+    const result = evaluateEligibility({
+      number: 106,
+      title: 'fix: high approvals but reviewer blocked',
+      url: 'https://example.test/pr/106',
+      latestReviews: [
+        ...approvers,
+        { state: 'CHANGES_REQUESTED', author: { login: 'strict-reviewer' } },
+      ],
+      statusCheckRollup: [{ status: 'COMPLETED', conclusion: 'SUCCESS' }],
+      closingIssuesReferences: [],
+    });
+
+    expect(result.eligible).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.highApprovalWaiver).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.reasons).toContain(
+      'must reference at least one OPEN linked issue'
+    );
+    expect(result.reasons).toContain(
+      'cannot have a pending CHANGES_REQUESTED review'
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('does not apply waiver when fewer than 6 approvals', () => {
+    const result = evaluateEligibility({
+      number: 107,
+      title: 'fix: only 5 approvals',
+      url: 'https://example.test/pr/107',
+      latestReviews: Array.from({ length: 5 }, (_, i) => ({
+        state: 'APPROVED',
+        author: { login: `agent-${i}` },
+      })),
+      statusCheckRollup: [{ status: 'COMPLETED', conclusion: 'SUCCESS' }],
+      closingIssuesReferences: [],
+    });
+
+    expect(result.eligible).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.highApprovalWaiver).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.reasons).toContain(
+      'must reference at least one OPEN linked issue'
+    );
+  });
+
   it('does not treat same-number issues in other repos as open', () => {
     const result = evaluateEligibility(
       {
diff --git a/web/scripts/fast-track-candidates.ts b/web/scripts/fast-track-candidates.ts
index 647af151..fb10a6ff 100644
--- a/web/scripts/fast-track-candidates.ts
+++ b/web/scripts/fast-track-candidates.ts
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ export interface EligibilityResult {
   approvals: number;
   ciState: string;
   linkedOpenIssues: number[];
+  highApprovalWaiver: boolean;
 }
 
 interface CandidateRecord {
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ interface CandidateRecord {
   approvals: number;
   ciState: string;
   linkedOpenIssues: number[];
+  highApprovalWaiver: boolean;
 }
 
 interface Report {
@@ -132,6 +134,14 @@ export function hasAllowedPrefix(title: string): boolean {
   return FAST_TRACK_PREFIXES.some((prefix) => normalized.startsWith(prefix));
 }
 
+export function hasChangesRequested(
+  latestReviews: ReviewNode[] | undefined
+): boolean {
+  return (latestReviews ?? []).some(
+    (review) => review.state === 'CHANGES_REQUESTED'
+  );
+}
+
 export function countDistinctApprovals(
   latestReviews: ReviewNode[] | undefined
 ): number {
@@ -200,6 +210,11 @@ function getLinkedOpenIssues(
     .sort((a, b) => a - b);
 }
 
+// High-approval waiver threshold (Issue #445).
+// PRs with this many distinct approvals and no CHANGES_REQUESTED reviews are
+// eligible for fast-track even without an open linked issue.
+export const HIGH_APPROVAL_WAIVER_THRESHOLD = 6;
+
 export function evaluateEligibility(
   pr: PullRequestNode,
   issueStates: Map<string, string> = new Map(),
@@ -209,6 +224,7 @@ export function evaluateEligibility(
   const approvals = countDistinctApprovals(pr.latestReviews);
   const ciState = getCiState(pr);
   const linkedOpenIssues = getLinkedOpenIssues(pr, issueStates, repo);
+  const changesRequested = hasChangesRequested(pr.latestReviews);
 
   if (!hasAllowedPrefix(pr.title)) {
     reasons.push(
@@ -224,10 +240,22 @@ export function evaluateEligibility(
     reasons.push(`CI checks must be SUCCESS (found ${ciState})`);
   }
 
-  if (linkedOpenIssues.length === 0) {
+  // Linked issue requirement, with high-approval waiver.
+  // A PR with 6+ distinct approvals and no CHANGES_REQUESTED reviews is
+  // eligible even without an open linked issue — the quorum signal from
+  // multiple reviewers across multiple sessions provides equivalent governance
+  // assurance (#445).
+  const highApprovalWaiver =
+    approvals >= HIGH_APPROVAL_WAIVER_THRESHOLD && !changesRequested;
+
+  if (linkedOpenIssues.length === 0 && !highApprovalWaiver) {
     reasons.push('must reference at least one OPEN linked issue');
   }
 
+  if (changesRequested) {
+    reasons.push('cannot have a pending CHANGES_REQUESTED review');
+  }
+
   if (hasThumbsDownVeto(pr.reactionGroups)) {
     reasons.push('cannot have a 👎 veto reaction on the PR');
   }
@@ -238,6 +266,7 @@ export function evaluateEligibility(
     approvals,
     ciState,
     linkedOpenIssues,
+    highApprovalWaiver,
   };
 }
 
@@ -385,6 +414,7 @@ function buildReport(prs: PullRequestNode[], repo: string): Report {
       approvals: evaluation.approvals,
       ciState: evaluation.ciState,
       linkedOpenIssues: evaluation.linkedOpenIssues,
+      highApprovalWaiver: evaluation.highApprovalWaiver,
     };
   });
 
@@ -421,9 +451,11 @@ function printHumanReport(report: Report): void {
   } else {
     console.log('Eligible PRs:');
     for (const pr of eligible) {
-      const linked = pr.linkedOpenIssues.map((num) => `#${num}`).join(', ');
+      const linked =
+        pr.linkedOpenIssues.map((num) => `#${num}`).join(', ') || 'none';
+      const waiver = pr.highApprovalWaiver ? ' [high-approval waiver]' : '';
       console.log(
-        `- #${pr.number} (${pr.approvals} approvals, CI ${pr.ciState}, merge ${pr.mergeStateStatus}, linked ${linked}) ${pr.url}`
+        `- #${pr.number} (${pr.approvals} approvals, CI ${pr.ciState}, merge ${pr.mergeStateStatus}, linked ${linked})${waiver} ${pr.url}`
       );
     }
   }