Like Aggie I am already at my limit in games.
This may not be the best time to start a civ game at the SID level. A lot of games have started at that difficulty recently, so I am thinking you may find it hard to find players at that skill level who still have an SG slot open, though I may also be wrong about that.
I have to agree with previous comments. The UN vote can be manipulated. Just because you have been at war with some nation doesn't mean they won't vote for you provided you haven't done things like Raze their cities.
Good luck though.