diff --git a/bigchaindb/pipelines/election.py b/bigchaindb/pipelines/election.py
index fe4fbc68..a5818b3e 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/pipelines/election.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/pipelines/election.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class Election:
         try:
             block_id = next_vote['vote']['voting_for_block']
             node = next_vote['node_pubkey']
-        except IndexError:
+        except KeyError:
             return
 
         next_block = self.bigchain.get_block(block_id)
diff --git a/tests/pipelines/test_election.py b/tests/pipelines/test_election.py
index e7491656..3127dcaf 100644
--- a/tests/pipelines/test_election.py
+++ b/tests/pipelines/test_election.py
@@ -114,6 +114,13 @@ def test_check_for_quorum_valid(b, user_pk):
     assert e.check_for_quorum(votes[-1]) is None
 
 
+@patch('bigchaindb.core.Bigchain.get_block')
+def test_invalid_vote(get_block, b):
+    e = election.Election()
+    assert e.check_for_quorum({}) is None
+    get_block.assert_not_called()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.bdb
 def test_check_requeue_transaction(b, user_pk):
     from bigchaindb.models import Transaction