diff --git a/dakiny_bot/utils.py b/dakiny_bot/utils.py
index 6156682..69eb1f2 100644
--- a/dakiny_bot/utils.py
+++ b/dakiny_bot/utils.py
@@ -34,20 +34,20 @@ VoteType = StrEnum("VoteType", ["COUNCIL", "DISCORDMANAGER", "CLANLEADER"])
 PointType = StrEnum("PointType", ["CLAN", "EVENT"])
 
 
-def get_datetime(day: str) -> datetime:
+def get_datetime(month_day: str) -> datetime:
     """
     Takes in a string month and day and returns a datetime object of that Month/Day this year.
 
     Args:
-        day (str): Month/Day in that format.
+        month_day (str): Month/Day in that format.
 
     Returns:
         datetime: Datetime representation of Month/Day.
     """
     today = datetime.now(tz=UTC).date()
     year = today.year
-    month = int(day.split("/")[0])
-    day = int(day.split("/")[1])
+    month = int(month_day.split("/")[0])
+    day = int(month_day.split("/")[1])
 
     # ensure that year rolls over if current month is December and the next month is less than 12.
     if today.month == calendar.DECEMBER and month < calendar.OCTOBER:
@@ -66,7 +66,10 @@ def get_election_name() -> str:
     Returns:
         str: the name of the election cycle
     """
-    cycle = get_active_election_cycle()
+    if cycle := get_active_election_cycle() is None:
+        # undefined behavior
+        print("Did not find an active election cycle. Undefined behavior with return string.")  # noqa: T201
+        return "No-active-election-cycle"
     current_cycle = settings.election_cycles[cycle]
     return f"vote-{get_datetime(current_cycle.term_start).year}-{current_cycle.name}"
 
@@ -78,13 +81,16 @@ def get_quarter_name() -> str:
     Returns:
         str: the name of the cycle.
     """
-    cycle = get_quarter_cycle()
+    if cycle := get_quarter_cycle() is None:
+        # undefined behavior
+        print("Did not find a quarter cycle. Undefined behavior with return string.")  # noqa: T201
+        return "no-quarter-cycle"
     current_cycle = settings.election_cycles[cycle]
 
     return f"{get_datetime(current_cycle.term_start).year}-{current_cycle.name}"
 
 
-def get_active_election_cycle() -> int:
+def get_active_election_cycle() -> int | None:
     """
     Returns index for active election. An election is considered active between the election start and the term start.
 
@@ -104,7 +110,7 @@ def get_active_election_cycle() -> int:
     return get_quarter_cycle()
 
 
-def get_quarter_cycle() -> int:
+def get_quarter_cycle() -> int | None:
     """
     Returns the index for the current cycle/quarter. Defined as between term start and end.