diff --git a/bigchaindb/voter.py b/bigchaindb/voter.py
index 5f89232c..1fba5622 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/voter.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/voter.py
@@ -213,6 +213,11 @@ class Election(object):
         while True:
             next_block = self.q_block_new_vote.get()
 
+            # poison pill
+            if next_block == 'stop':
+                logger.info('clean exit')
+                return
+
             if b.block_voted_invalid(next_block):
                 self.q_invalid_blocks.put(next_block)
 
@@ -227,6 +232,12 @@ class Election(object):
             for tx in invalid_block['transactions']:
                 b.write_transaction(tx)
 
+    def kill(self):
+        """
+        Terminate processes
+        """
+        self.q_block_new_vote.put('stop')
+
     def start(self):
         """
         Initialize, spawn, and start the processes