diff --git a/helios/models.py b/helios/models.py
index 6a0f18f148a7614a43288b2d3c75da4f3d55e1a4..bece7ca080c55f8c4f8a6ddf23700fa3376e70ab 100644
--- a/helios/models.py
+++ b/helios/models.py
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ class Election(HeliosModel):
           continue
           
         # abort saving if bad URL
-        if not (answer_url.startsWith("http://") or answer_url.startsWith("https://")):
+        if not (answer_url[:7] == "http://" or answer_url[:8]== "https://"):
           return
     
     self.questions = questions