diff --git a/bigchaindb/elections/election.py b/bigchaindb/elections/election.py
index b6deff7c..e8b3256e 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/elections/election.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/elections/election.py
@@ -229,8 +229,6 @@ class Election(Transaction):
         latest_change_height = latest_change['height']
 
         election = self.get_election(self.id, bigchain)
-        if not election:
-            return True
 
         return latest_change_height > election['height']
 
diff --git a/tests/elections/test_election.py b/tests/elections/test_election.py
index ccef0e29..a8c5ce98 100644
--- a/tests/elections/test_election.py
+++ b/tests/elections/test_election.py
@@ -34,12 +34,13 @@ def test_process_block_concludes_all_elections(b):
     total_votes += votes
 
     b.store_abci_chain(1, 'chain-X')
+    Election.process_block(b, 1, txs)
     b.store_block(Block(height=1,
                         transactions=[tx.id for tx in txs],
                         app_hash='')._asdict())
     b.store_bulk_transactions(txs)
 
-    Election.process_block(b, 2, txs + total_votes)
+    Election.process_block(b, 2, total_votes)
 
     validators = b.get_validators()
     assert len(validators) == 5
@@ -82,12 +83,13 @@ def test_process_block_approves_only_one_validator_update(b):
     txs += [election]
     total_votes += votes
 
+    Election.process_block(b, 1, txs)
     b.store_block(Block(height=1,
                         transactions=[tx.id for tx in txs],
                         app_hash='')._asdict())
     b.store_bulk_transactions(txs)
 
-    Election.process_block(b, 2, txs + total_votes)
+    Election.process_block(b, 2, total_votes)
 
     validators = b.get_validators()
     assert len(validators) == 5
@@ -132,12 +134,13 @@ def test_process_block_approves_after_pending_validator_update(b):
     total_votes += votes
 
     b.store_abci_chain(1, 'chain-X')
+    Election.process_block(b, 1, txs)
     b.store_block(Block(height=1,
                         transactions=[tx.id for tx in txs],
                         app_hash='')._asdict())
     b.store_bulk_transactions(txs)
 
-    Election.process_block(b, 2, txs + total_votes)
+    Election.process_block(b, 2, total_votes)
 
     validators = b.get_validators()
     assert len(validators) == 5
@@ -172,25 +175,24 @@ def test_process_block_does_not_approve_after_validator_update(b):
     b.store_block(Block(height=1,
                         transactions=[tx.id for tx in txs],
                         app_hash='')._asdict())
+    Election.process_block(b, 1, txs)
     b.store_bulk_transactions(txs)
 
-    Election.process_block(b, 2, txs + total_votes)
+    second_election, second_votes = generate_election(b,
+                                                      ChainMigrationElection,
+                                                      public_key, private_key,
+                                                      {})
+
+    Election.process_block(b, 2, total_votes + [second_election])
 
     b.store_block(Block(height=2,
-                        transactions=[v.id for v in total_votes],
+                        transactions=[v.id for v in total_votes + [second_election]],
                         app_hash='')._asdict())
 
-    election, votes = generate_election(b,
-                                        ChainMigrationElection,
-                                        public_key, private_key,
-                                        {})
-    txs = [election]
-    total_votes = votes
-
     b.store_abci_chain(1, 'chain-X')
-    Election.process_block(b, 3, txs + total_votes)
+    Election.process_block(b, 3, second_votes)
 
-    assert not b.get_election(election.id)['is_concluded']
+    assert not b.get_election(second_election.id)['is_concluded']
     assert b.get_latest_abci_chain() == {'height': 1,
                                          'chain_id': 'chain-X',
                                          'is_synced': True}
@@ -219,12 +221,13 @@ def test_process_block_applies_only_one_migration(b):
     total_votes += votes
 
     b.store_abci_chain(1, 'chain-X')
+    Election.process_block(b, 1, txs)
     b.store_block(Block(height=1,
                         transactions=[tx.id for tx in txs],
                         app_hash='')._asdict())
     b.store_bulk_transactions(txs)
 
-    Election.process_block(b, 1, txs + total_votes)
+    Election.process_block(b, 1, total_votes)
     chain = b.get_latest_abci_chain()
     assert chain
     assert chain == {