diff --git a/bot_messages/vote_start.txt b/bot_messages/vote_start.txt
index 5f59e83..f67865e 100644
--- a/bot_messages/vote_start.txt
+++ b/bot_messages/vote_start.txt
@@ -11,8 +11,4 @@ After a candidate receives 3 votes, their spot is secured in the new council, bu
 Votes for multiple candidates from the same person will not be counted. 
 
 RS3 Clan Members
-OSRS Clan Members
-
-====================
-Clan nominees:
-{clan_nominees}
\ No newline at end of file
+OSRS Clan Members
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/classes/election_cycle.py b/classes/election_cycle.py
index 57e5a9a..ce16cfc 100644
--- a/classes/election_cycle.py
+++ b/classes/election_cycle.py
@@ -122,33 +122,11 @@ class ElectionCycle:
             message = file.read()
             vote_end: datetime = get_datetime(self.config.election_cycles[self.cycle].voting_end)
 
-            votes: dict[int, int] = {}
-
-            with Session(engine) as session:
-                stmt = select(CouncilMembers).where(ElectionCycle == get_election_cycle_name(self.config))
-
-                for nominee in session.scalars(stmt):
-                    votes[nominee.MemberId] = 0
-
-                stmt = select(Votes).where(ElectionCycle == get_election_cycle_name(self.config))
-
-                for vote in session.scalars(stmt):
-                    votes[vote.VotedForId] += 1
-
-            nominees_str: str = ""
-            for user_id, num_votes in votes.items():
-                nominees_str += f"<@{user_id}>: "
-
-                for num in range(num_votes):
-                    nominees_str += "☑️"
-                nominees_str += "\n"
-
             return message.format(
                 clan_member_id=self.config.params.clan_member_role_id,
                 voting_emote_id=self.config.params.voting_emote_id,
                 voting_end=vote_end.strftime("%B %d"),
                 voting_end_day=vote_end.strftime("%A"),
-                clan_nominees=nominees_str,
             )
 
     async def check_date(self) -> None:
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index d36ab45..2b11006 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -4,7 +4,11 @@ File contains util functions.
 
 from datetime import datetime
 
+from sqlalchemy import select
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
+
 from config import DakinyConfig
+from database_setup.sql_data_classes import CouncilMembers, Votes, engine
 
 
 def get_datetime(day: str) -> datetime:
@@ -62,3 +66,38 @@ def get_current_cycle(config: DakinyConfig) -> int:
             return cycle
 
     return -1
+
+
+def build_votes_str(config: DakinyConfig) -> str:
+    """
+    Creates a string that contains all nominees and their votes to be sent as a discord message.
+
+    Args:
+        config (DakinyConfig): Daking config object
+
+    Returns:
+        str: String that contains all nominees and their votes.
+    """
+
+    votes: dict[int, int] = {}
+
+    with Session(engine) as session:
+        stmt = select(CouncilMembers).where(CouncilMembers.ElectionCycle == get_election_cycle_name(config))
+
+        for nominee in session.scalars(stmt):
+            votes[nominee.MemberId] = 0
+
+        stmt = select(Votes).where(Votes.ElectionCycle == get_election_cycle_name(config))
+
+        for vote in session.scalars(stmt):
+            votes[vote.VotedForId] += 1
+
+    votes_str: str = "===================="
+    for user_id, num_votes in votes.items():
+        votes_str += f"<@{user_id}>: "
+
+        for num in range(num_votes):
+            votes_str += "☑️"
+        votes_str += "\n"
+
+    return votes_str