diff --git a/tlapbot/__init__.py b/tlapbot/__init__.py
index e9f8519..7063e37 100644
--- a/tlapbot/__init__.py
+++ b/tlapbot/__init__.py
@@ -26,10 +26,15 @@ def create_app(test_config: None = None) -> Flask:
     app.config.from_pyfile('redeems.py', silent=True)
 
     # set up polls if they're enabled
-    if app.config['POLLS']:
+    if app.config['POLLS_ENABLED']:
         app.config.from_object('tlapbot.defaults.default_polls')
         app.config.from_pyfile('polls.py', silent=True)
 
+        for poll in app.config['POLLS']:
+            if ' ' in poll:
+                app.logger.warning(f"Poll '{poll}' has spaces in its name.")
+                app.logger.warning("Poll with spaces are impossible to redeem.")
+
     # Make logging work for gunicorn-ran instances of tlapbot.
     if app.config['GUNICORN']:
         gunicorn_logger = logging.getLogger('gunicorn.error')
diff --git a/tlapbot/db.py b/tlapbot/db.py
index d90eca8..3335af8 100644
--- a/tlapbot/db.py
+++ b/tlapbot/db.py
@@ -92,12 +92,24 @@ def refresh_counters() -> bool:
     return insert_counters(db)
 
 
+def populate_poll_options(db: sqlite3.Connection, poll: str) -> bool:
+    for option in current_app.config['POLLS'][poll]['options']:
+        db.execute(
+            "INSERT INTO polls(poll_name, points, option) VALUES(?, ?, ?)",
+            (poll, 0, option)
+        )
+    db.commit()
+    return True
+
+
 def refresh_polls() -> bool:
     db = get_db()
-
     try:
         db.execute("DELETE FROM polls")
         db.commit()
+        for poll in current_app.config['POLLS']:
+            populate_poll_options(db, poll)
+        db.commit()
     except sqlite3.Error as e:
         print("Error occurred deleting old counters:", e.args[0])
         return False
@@ -114,12 +126,7 @@ def reset_poll(poll: str) -> bool:
             "DELETE FROM polls WHERE poll_name = ?",
             (poll,)
         )
-        for option in current_app.config['POLLS'][poll]:
-            db.execute(
-                "INSERT INTO polls(poll_name, points, option) VALUES(?, ?, ?)",
-                (poll, 0, option)
-            )
-        db.commit()
+        populate_poll_options(db, poll)
         return True
     except sqlite3.Error as e:
         current_app.logger.error(f"Error occurred resetting poll: {e.args[0]}")
diff --git a/tlapbot/defaults/default_config.py b/tlapbot/defaults/default_config.py
index 72103b6..f28e1bc 100644
--- a/tlapbot/defaults/default_config.py
+++ b/tlapbot/defaults/default_config.py
@@ -8,4 +8,4 @@ LIST_REDEEMS=False
 ACTIVE_CATEGORIES=[]
 GUNICORN=False
 PREFIX='!'
-POLLS=True
\ No newline at end of file
+POLLS_ENABLED=True
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tlapbot/poll_handler.py b/tlapbot/poll_handler.py
index 77f4ff1..d91e04e 100644
--- a/tlapbot/poll_handler.py
+++ b/tlapbot/poll_handler.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ def handle_poll_vote(message: str, user_id: str) -> None:
     if not user_points:
         send_chat(f"Can't vote in {poll_name} poll, failed to read users' points.")
         return
+    poll_points = int(poll_points)
     if user_points < poll_points:
         send_chat(f"Can't vote in {poll_name} poll, you're voting with more points than you have.")
     if (vote_in_poll(db, poll_name, option, poll_points) and 
diff --git a/tlapbot/redeems/polls.py b/tlapbot/redeems/polls.py
index 3734776..7af29d4 100644
--- a/tlapbot/redeems/polls.py
+++ b/tlapbot/redeems/polls.py
@@ -28,11 +28,11 @@ def vote_in_poll(db: Connection, poll_name: str, option: str, points: int) -> bo
     if poll_option_exists(db, poll_name, option):
         try:
             cursor = db.execute(
-                "UPDATE polls SET progress = progress + ? WHERE poll_name = ? and option = ?",
+                "UPDATE polls SET points = points + ? WHERE poll_name = ? and option = ?",
                 (points, poll_name, option)
                 )
             db.commit()
             return True
         except Error as e:
-            current_app.logger.error(f"Error occurred updating milestone: {e.args[0]}")
+            current_app.logger.error(f"Error occurred updating poll: {e.args[0]}")
         return False