diff --git a/src/elections/crud.py b/src/elections/crud.py
index 8a60e98..10695a4 100644
--- a/src/elections/crud.py
+++ b/src/elections/crud.py
@@ -1,13 +1,10 @@
-import logging
-
 import sqlalchemy
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
 
 from elections.tables import Election, NomineeApplication, NomineeInfo
 
-_logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-async def get_all_elections(db_session: AsyncSession) -> list[Election] | None:
+async def get_all_elections(db_session: AsyncSession) -> list[Election]:
     # TODO: can this return None?
     election_list = (await db_session.scalars(
         sqlalchemy
@@ -53,7 +50,7 @@ async def delete_election(db_session: AsyncSession, slug: str) -> None:
 # ------------------------------------------------------- #
 
 # TODO: switch to only using one of application or registration
-async def get_all_registrations(
+async def get_all_registrations_of_user(
     db_session: AsyncSession,
     computing_id: str,
     election_slug: str
diff --git a/src/elections/models.py b/src/elections/models.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b39614
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/elections/models.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+from enum import Enum
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel
+
+
+class ElectionTypeEnum(str, Enum):
+    GENERAL = "general_election"
+    BY_ELECTION = "by_election"
+    COUNCIL_REP = "council_rep_election"
+
+class ElectionModel(BaseModel):
+    slug: str
+    name: str
+    type: ElectionTypeEnum
+    datetime_start_nominations: str
+    datetime_start_voting: str
+    datetime_end_voting: str
+    available_positions: str
+    survey_link: str | None
+
+class NomineeInfoModel(BaseModel):
+    computing_id: str
+    full_name: str
+    linked_in: str
+    instagram: str
+    email: str
+    discord_username: str
+
+class NomineeApplicationModel(BaseModel):
+    computing_id: str
+    nominee_election: str
+    position: str
+    speech: str
diff --git a/src/elections/urls.py b/src/elections/urls.py
index 2ab5fde..65412d4 100644
--- a/src/elections/urls.py
+++ b/src/elections/urls.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import logging
 import re
 from datetime import datetime
 
@@ -7,15 +6,16 @@
 
 import database
 import elections
+import elections.crud
 import elections.tables
+from elections.models import ElectionModel, NomineeApplicationModel, NomineeInfoModel
 from elections.tables import Election, NomineeApplication, NomineeInfo, election_types
 from officers.constants import OfficerPosition
 from officers.crud import get_active_officer_terms
 from permission.types import ElectionOfficer, WebsiteAdmin
+from utils.shared_models import SuccessFailModel
 from utils.urls import is_logged_in
 
-_logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-
 router = APIRouter(
     prefix="/elections",
     tags=["elections"],
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ def _slugify(text: str) -> str:
 async def _validate_user(
     request: Request,
     db_session: database.DBSession,
-) -> tuple[bool, str, str]:
+) -> tuple[bool, str | None, str | None]:
     logged_in, session_id, computing_id = await is_logged_in(request, db_session)
-    if not logged_in:
+    if not logged_in or not computing_id:
         return False, None, None
 
     # where valid means elections officer or website admin
@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@ async def _validate_user(
 
 @router.get(
     "/list",
-    description="Returns a list of all elections & their status"
+    description="Returns a list of all elections & their status",
+    response_model=list[ElectionModel]
 )
 async def list_elections(
     _: Request,
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ async def list_elections(
     election_list = await elections.crud.get_all_elections(db_session)
     if election_list is None or len(election_list) == 0:
         raise HTTPException(
-            status_code=status.HTTP_404_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
+            status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND,
             detail="no elections found"
         )
 
@@ -71,7 +72,8 @@ async def list_elections(
     Retrieves the election data for an election by name.
     Returns private details when the time is allowed.
     If user is an admin or elections officer, returns computing ids for each candidate as well.
-    """
+    """,
+    response_model=ElectionModel
 )
 async def get_election(
     request: Request,
@@ -92,6 +94,11 @@ async def get_election(
 
         election_json = election.private_details(current_time)
         all_nominations = await elections.crud.get_all_registrations_in_election(db_session, slugified_name)
+        if not all_nominations:
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND,
+                detail="no registrations found"
+            )
         election_json["candidates"] = []
 
         available_positions_list = election.available_positions.split(",")
@@ -166,6 +173,7 @@ def _raise_if_bad_election_data(
 @router.post(
     "/{election_name:str}",
     description="Creates an election and places it in the database. Returns election json on success",
+    response_model=ElectionModel
 )
 async def create_election(
     request: Request,
@@ -251,7 +259,8 @@ async def create_election(
         name produces the same slug.
 
         Returns election json on success.
-    """
+    """,
+    response_model=ElectionModel
 )
 async def update_election(
     request: Request,
@@ -310,7 +319,8 @@ async def update_election(
 
 @router.delete(
     "/{election_name:str}",
-    description="Deletes an election from the database. Returns whether the election exists after deletion."
+    description="Deletes an election from the database. Returns whether the election exists after deletion.",
+    response_model=SuccessFailModel
 )
 async def delete_election(
     request: Request,
@@ -337,7 +347,8 @@ async def delete_election(
 
 @router.get(
     "/registration/{election_name:str}",
-    description="get your election registration(s)"
+    description="get your election registration(s)",
+    response_model=list[NomineeApplicationModel]
 )
 async def get_election_registrations(
     request: Request,
@@ -358,7 +369,7 @@ async def get_election_registrations(
             detail=f"election with slug {slugified_name} does not exist"
         )
 
-    registration_list = await elections.crud.get_all_registrations(db_session, computing_id, slugified_name)
+    registration_list = await elections.crud.get_all_registrations_of_user(db_session, computing_id, slugified_name)
     if registration_list is None:
         return JSONResponse([])
     return JSONResponse([
@@ -367,7 +378,7 @@ async def get_election_registrations(
 
 @router.post(
     "/registration/{election_name:str}",
-    description="register for a specific position in this election, but doesn't set a speech"
+    description="register for a specific position in this election, but doesn't set a speech",
 )
 async def register_in_election(
     request: Request,
@@ -414,7 +425,7 @@ async def register_in_election(
             status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
             detail="registrations can only be made during the nomination period"
         )
-    elif await elections.crud.get_all_registrations(db_session, computing_id, slugified_name):
+    elif await elections.crud.get_all_registrations_of_user(db_session, computing_id, slugified_name):
         raise HTTPException(
             status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
             detail="you are already registered in this election"
@@ -482,7 +493,7 @@ async def update_registration(
             detail="speeches can only be updated during the nomination period"
         )
 
-    elif not await elections.crud.get_all_registrations(db_session, ccid_of_registrant, slugified_name):
+    elif not await elections.crud.get_all_registrations_of_user(db_session, ccid_of_registrant, slugified_name):
         raise HTTPException(
             status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND,
             detail="applicant not yet registered in this election"
@@ -531,7 +542,7 @@ async def delete_registration(
             status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
             detail="registration can only be revoked during the nomination period"
         )
-    elif not await elections.crud.get_all_registrations(db_session, computing_id, slugified_name):
+    elif not await elections.crud.get_all_registrations_of_user(db_session, computing_id, slugified_name):
         raise HTTPException(
             status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND,
             detail="you are not yet registered in this election"
@@ -544,7 +555,8 @@ async def delete_registration(
 
 @router.get(
     "/nominee/info",
-    description="Nominee info is always publically tied to elections, so be careful!"
+    description="Nominee info is always publically tied to elections, so be careful!",
+    response_model=NomineeInfoModel
 )
 async def get_nominee_info(
     request: Request,
@@ -568,7 +580,8 @@ async def get_nominee_info(
 
 @router.put(
     "/nominee/info",
-    description="Will create or update nominee info. Returns an updated copy of their nominee info."
+    description="Will create or update nominee info. Returns an updated copy of their nominee info.",
+    response_model=NomineeInfoModel
 )
 async def provide_nominee_info(
     request: Request,
diff --git a/src/utils/shared_models.py b/src/utils/shared_models.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ceaa2e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/shared_models.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+from pydantic import BaseModel
+
+
+class SuccessFailModel(BaseModel):
+    success: bool
diff --git a/src/utils/urls.py b/src/utils/urls.py
index 13acb86..53f66dd 100644
--- a/src/utils/urls.py
+++ b/src/utils/urls.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from fastapi import HTTPException, Request
 
 import auth
+import auth.crud
 import database
 
 # TODO: move other utils into this module
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ async def logged_in_or_raise(
 async def is_logged_in(
     request: Request,
     db_session: database.DBSession
-) -> tuple[str | None, str | None]:
+) -> tuple[bool, str | None, str | None]:
     """gets the user's computing_id, or raises an exception if the current request is not logged in"""
     session_id = request.cookies.get("session_id", None)
     if session_id is None:
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_elections.py b/tests/integration/test_elections.py
index 896887c..466c11b 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_elections.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_elections.py
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
 import load_test_db
 from auth.crud import create_user_session, get_computing_id, update_site_user
 from database import SQLALCHEMY_TEST_DATABASE_URL, DatabaseSessionManager
-from elections.crud import (
+from main import app
+from src.elections.crud import (
     add_registration,
     create_election,
     create_nominee_info,
@@ -16,9 +17,9 @@
     delete_registration,
     # election crud
     get_all_elections,
-    # election registration crud
-    get_all_registrations,
     get_all_registrations_in_election,
+    # election registration crud
+    get_all_registrations_of_user,
     get_election,
     # info crud
     get_nominee_info,
@@ -26,7 +27,6 @@
     update_nominee_info,
     update_registration,
 )
-from main import app
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")