diff --git a/classes/election_cycle.py b/classes/election_cycle.py
index a60cdd4..9080e7d 100644
--- a/classes/election_cycle.py
+++ b/classes/election_cycle.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from database_setup.sql_data_classes import (
     engine,
 )
 from utils import (
+    TEMPLATES_DIR,
     build_highcouncil_votes_str,
     build_votes_str,
     edit_clan_council_info,
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ class ElectionCycle:
         """
 
         with open(
-            "bot_messages/election_announcement.txt", mode="r", encoding="utf8"
+            f"{TEMPLATES_DIR}/election_announcement.txt", mode="r", encoding="utf8"
         ) as file:
             message = file.read()
 
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ class ElectionCycle:
         """
 
         with open(
-            "bot_messages/highcouncil_election.txt", mode="r", encoding="utf8"
+            f"{TEMPLATES_DIR}/highcouncil_election.txt", mode="r", encoding="utf8"
         ) as file:
             message = file.read()
 
@@ -137,7 +138,7 @@ class ElectionCycle:
         """
 
         with open(
-            "bot_messages/highcouncil_vote.txt", mode="r", encoding="utf8"
+            f"{TEMPLATES_DIR}/highcouncil_vote.txt", mode="r", encoding="utf8"
         ) as file:
             message = file.read()
 
@@ -154,7 +155,7 @@ class ElectionCycle:
             str: Message to send
         """
 
-        with open("bot_messages/vote_start.txt", mode="r", encoding="utf8") as file:
+        with open(f"{TEMPLATES_DIR}/vote_start.txt", mode="r", encoding="utf8") as file:
             message = file.read()
             vote_end: datetime = get_datetime(
                 self.config.election_cycles[self.cycle].voting_end
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 0dbbfdb..9f04a10 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from database_setup.sql_data_classes import (
 NOMINEE_SPLITTER = "========================================\n\n"
 REPO_DIR = "./dakiny-messages"
 MESSAGES_DIR = f"{REPO_DIR}/messages"
+TEMPLATES_DIR = f"{REPO_DIR}/message_templates"
 
 
 def get_datetime(day: str) -> datetime:
@@ -570,7 +571,7 @@ async def edit_clan_council_info(guild: nextcord.Guild, config: DakinyConfig):
         quarter = get_cycle_name(config)
 
         with open(
-            "bot_messages/council_members.txt", mode="r", encoding="utf8"
+            f"{TEMPLATES_DIR}/council_members.txt", mode="r", encoding="utf8"
         ) as file:
             message = file.read()
             message = message.format(