diff --git a/classes/election_cycle.py b/classes/election_cycle.py
index 9ba4c57..d2acd5b 100644
--- a/classes/election_cycle.py
+++ b/classes/election_cycle.py
@@ -201,16 +201,9 @@ class ElectionCycle:
 
         thread_msg: nextcord.Message = await parent.send(content=quarter_name)
 
-        # create new entry into database.
         thread: nextcord.Thread = await parent.create_thread(
             name=quarter_name, message=thread_msg
         )
-        with Session(engine) as session:
-            new_cycle = ElectionInformation(
-                ElectionCycle=quarter_name, ThreadId=thread.id
-            )
-            session.add(new_cycle)
-            session.commit()
 
         # post message announcing election
         # election start message is returned as an array of string because it is too long. send each string
@@ -219,10 +212,22 @@ class ElectionCycle:
         for index, message in enumerate(messages):
             # if last item, add the nominate button
             if index + 1 == len(messages):
-                await thread.send(message, view=NominateView(self.config, self.guild))
+                nominate_msg: nextcord.Message = await thread.send(
+                    message, view=NominateView(self.config, self.guild)
+                )
             else:
                 await thread.send(message)
 
+        # create new entry into database.
+        with Session(engine) as session:
+            new_cycle = ElectionInformation(
+                ElectionCycle=quarter_name,
+                ThreadId=thread.id,
+                CouncilNominationMsgId=nominate_msg.id,
+            )
+            session.add(new_cycle)
+            session.commit()
+
     async def voting_start_action(self) -> None:
         """
         Sends message informing members that voting has started.
@@ -246,6 +251,12 @@ class ElectionCycle:
             info.CouncilVoteMsgId = vote_msg.id
             session.commit()
 
+            thread: nextcord.Thread = self.guild.get_thread(info.ThreadId)
+            nominate_msg: nextcord.Message = await thread.fetch_message(
+                info.CouncilNominationMsgId
+            )
+            await nominate_msg.edit(view=None)
+
     async def voting_end_action(self) -> None:
         """
         Performs required actions for when voting time has ended.
@@ -259,18 +270,28 @@ class ElectionCycle:
             self.get_election_info().ThreadId
         )
 
-        # remove vote button from vote message
+        nominate_msg: nextcord.Message = await election_thread.send(
+            message, view=NominateHighCouncilView(self.config, self.guild)
+        )
+
         election_name = get_election_cycle_name(self.config)
+
         with Session(engine) as session:
-            stmt = select(ElectionInformation.CouncilVoteMsgId).where(
+            # remove vote button from vote message
+            stmt = select(ElectionInformation).where(
                 ElectionInformation.ElectionCycle == election_name
             )
-            vote_msg_id = session.scalar(stmt)
-        vote_msg: nextcord.Message = await election_thread.fetch_message(vote_msg_id)
-        await vote_msg.edit(view=None)
+            info = session.scalar(stmt)
+            vote_msg: nextcord.Message = await election_thread.fetch_message(
+                info.CouncilVoteMsgId
+            )
+            await vote_msg.edit(view=None)
 
-        # add the highcouncil role to everyone with 3 or more votes. set elected to true in database
-        with Session(engine) as session:
+            # add the highcouncil nomination message to election information
+            info.HighCouncilNominationMsgId = nominate_msg.id
+            session.commit()
+
+            # add the highcouncil role to everyone with 3 or more votes. set elected to true in database
             stmt = select(Votes.VotedForId).where(Votes.ElectionCycle == election_name)
             vote_count = collections.Counter(session.scalars(stmt))
 
@@ -292,10 +313,6 @@ class ElectionCycle:
                         reason=f"{member.display_name} has won a nomination and become a Council Elect.",
                     )
 
-        await election_thread.send(
-            message, view=NominateHighCouncilView(self.config, self.guild)
-        )
-
     async def highcouncil_election_start_action(self) -> None:
         """
         Performs required actions for when the highcouncil is elected.
@@ -320,6 +337,12 @@ class ElectionCycle:
             info.HighCouncilVoteMsgId = vote_msg.id
             session.commit()
 
+            # remove highcouncil nomination view
+            nomination_msg: nextcord.Message = await election_thread.fetch_message(
+                info.HighCouncilNominationMsgId
+            )
+            await nomination_msg.edit(view=None)
+
     async def term_start_action(self) -> None:
         """
         Marks the election as over.
@@ -364,8 +387,14 @@ class ElectionCycle:
             stmt = select(Votes.VotedForId).where(Votes.ElectionCycle == cl_election)
             cl_votes = collections.Counter(session.scalars(stmt))
 
-            dm_winner = max(dm_votes, key=dm_votes.get)
-            cl_winner = max(cl_votes, key=cl_votes.get)
+            try:
+                dm_winner = max(dm_votes, key=dm_votes.get)
+            except ValueError:
+                dm_winner = "No winner"
+            try:
+                cl_winner = max(cl_votes, key=cl_votes.get)
+            except ValueError:
+                cl_winner = "No winner"
 
         election_thread: nextcord.Thread = self.guild.get_thread(
             self.get_election_info().ThreadId
diff --git a/database_setup/database.sql b/database_setup/database.sql
index e976e69..4a66960 100644
--- a/database_setup/database.sql
+++ b/database_setup/database.sql
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ CREATE TABLE ElectionInformation(
     ThreadId bigint unsigned not null,
     CouncilVoteMsgId bigint unsigned,
     HighCouncilVoteMsgId bigint unsigned,
+    CouncilNominationMsgId bigint unsigned,
+    HighCouncilNominationMsgId bigint unsigned,
     PRIMARY KEY (ElectionCycle)
 );