diff --git a/helios/tests.py b/helios/tests.py
index 1523ae3e9719fb07a5f5d87461148fb07e14b2b7..46f7ffc6cd4704f98b266c501f6d5cfcd31ac98b 100644
--- a/helios/tests.py
+++ b/helios/tests.py
@@ -620,8 +620,9 @@ class ElectionBlackboxTests(WebTest):
             if login_page.status_int != 302:
                 login_form = login_page.form
                 
-                login_form['voter_id'] = username
-                login_form['password'] = password
+                # try with extra spaces
+                login_form['voter_id'] = '  ' + username + '   '
+                login_form['password'] = '  ' + password + '      '
                 login_form.submit()
             
         response = self.app.get(url)