diff --git a/helios/views.py b/helios/views.py
index 4e3d0493ca569a0c11d37e4b5e5c63510379f901..572517c1dab0093ccad67cee585829a72ec79702 100644
--- a/helios/views.py
+++ b/helios/views.py
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ def election_new(request):
 
   if request.method == "GET":
     election_form = forms.ElectionForm(initial={'private_p': settings.HELIOS_PRIVATE_DEFAULT,
-                                                'help_email': user.info.get(email, '')})
+                                                'help_email': user.info.get("email", '')})
   else:
     election_form = forms.ElectionForm(request.POST)