diff --git a/code/__HELPERS/game.dm b/code/__HELPERS/game.dm
index eb441a96b94..d31c7dd746b 100644
--- a/code/__HELPERS/game.dm
+++ b/code/__HELPERS/game.dm
@@ -442,6 +442,22 @@
 
 	return candidates
 
+/proc/pollCandidatesForMob(Question, jobbanType, datum/game_mode/gametypeCheck, be_special_flag = 0, poll_time = 300, mob/M)
+	var/list/L = pollCandidates(Question, jobbanType, gametypeCheck, be_special_flag, poll_time)
+	if(!M || qdeleted(M))
+		return list()
+	return L
+
+/proc/pollCandidatesForMobs(Question, jobbanType, datum/game_mode/gametypeCheck, be_special_flag = 0, poll_time = 300, list/mobs)
+	var/list/L = pollCandidates(Question, jobbanType, gametypeCheck, be_special_flag, poll_time)
+	var/i=1
+	for(var/v in mobs)
+		if(!v || qdeleted(v))
+			mobs.Cut(i,i+1)
+		else
+			++i
+	return L
+
 /proc/makeBody(mob/dead/observer/G_found) // Uses stripped down and bastardized code from respawn character
 	if(!G_found || !G_found.key)
 		return
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/blob/powers.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/blob/powers.dm
index f8781f3b6d3..0d7e5ffe098 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/blob/powers.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/blob/powers.dm
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@
 	blobber.notransform = 1 //stop the naut from moving around
 	blobber.adjustHealth(blobber.maxHealth * 0.5)
 	blob_mobs += blobber
-	var/list/mob/dead/observer/candidates = pollCandidates("Do you want to play as a [blob_reagent_datum.name] blobbernaut?", ROLE_BLOB, null, ROLE_BLOB, 50) //players must answer rapidly
+	var/list/mob/dead/observer/candidates = pollCandidatesForMob("Do you want to play as a [blob_reagent_datum.name] blobbernaut?", ROLE_BLOB, null, ROLE_BLOB, 50, blobber) //players must answer rapidly
 	if(candidates.len) //if we got at least one candidate, they're a blobbernaut now.
 		var/client/C = pick(candidates)
 		blobber.notransform = 0
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/game_mode.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/game_mode.dm
index 9d2f9d3c628..cc7b43a6adb 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/game_mode.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/game_mode.dm
@@ -517,7 +517,7 @@
 	return max(0, enemy_minimum_age - C.player_age)
 
 /datum/game_mode/proc/replace_jobbaned_player(mob/living/M, role_type, pref)
-	var/list/mob/dead/observer/candidates = pollCandidates("Do you want to play as a [role_type]?", "[role_type]", null, pref, 100)
+	var/list/mob/dead/observer/candidates = pollCandidatesForMob("Do you want to play as a [role_type]?", "[role_type]", null, pref, 100, M)
 	var/mob/dead/observer/theghost = null
 	if(candidates.len)
 		theghost = pick(candidates)
diff --git a/code/modules/admin/fun_balloon.dm b/code/modules/admin/fun_balloon.dm
index 64d0a762731..40eff1ce83b 100644
--- a/code/modules/admin/fun_balloon.dm
+++ b/code/modules/admin/fun_balloon.dm
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
 		bodies += M
 
 	var/question = "Would you like to be [group_name]?"
-	var/list/candidates = pollCandidates(question, "pAI", null, FALSE, 100)
+	var/list/candidates = pollCandidatesForMobs(question, "pAI", null, FALSE, 100, bodies)
 	while(candidates.len && bodies.len)
 		var/mob/dead/observer/ghost = pick_n_take(candidates)
 		var/mob/living/body = pick_n_take(bodies)
diff --git a/code/modules/awaymissions/mission_code/Academy.dm b/code/modules/awaymissions/mission_code/Academy.dm
index b4b537285f7..585453a1849 100644
--- a/code/modules/awaymissions/mission_code/Academy.dm
+++ b/code/modules/awaymissions/mission_code/Academy.dm
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
 	if(!current_wizard)
 		return
 	spawn(0)
-		var/list/mob/dead/observer/candidates = pollCandidates("Do you want to play as Wizard Academy Defender?", "wizard", null, ROLE_WIZARD)
+		var/list/mob/dead/observer/candidates = pollCandidatesForMob("Do you want to play as Wizard Academy Defender?", "wizard", null, ROLE_WIZARD, current_wizard)
 		var/mob/dead/observer/chosen = null
 
 		if(candidates.len)
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@
 			servant_mind.objectives += O
 			servant_mind.transfer_to(H)
 
-			var/list/mob/dead/observer/candidates = pollCandidates("Do you want to play as [user.real_name] Servant?", "wizard")
+			var/list/mob/dead/observer/candidates = pollCandidatesForMob("Do you want to play as [user.real_name] Servant?", "wizard", mob = H)
 			var/mob/dead/observer/chosen = null
 
 			if(candidates.len)
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/mob_helpers.dm b/code/modules/mob/mob_helpers.dm
index 2add2975aa3..3e734dee12f 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/mob_helpers.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/mob_helpers.dm
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ It's fairly easy to fix if dealing with single letters but not so much with comp
 		poll_message = "[poll_message] Job:[M.mind.assigned_role]."
 	if(M.mind && M.mind.special_role)
 		poll_message = "[poll_message] Status:[M.mind.special_role]."
-	var/list/mob/dead/observer/candidates = pollCandidates(poll_message, "pAI", null, FALSE, 100)
+	var/list/mob/dead/observer/candidates = pollCandidatesForMob(poll_message, "pAI", null, FALSE, 100, M)
 	var/mob/dead/observer/theghost = null
 
 	if(candidates.len)
diff --git a/code/modules/research/xenobiology/xenobiology.dm b/code/modules/research/xenobiology/xenobiology.dm
index 66b18bd7ce5..810d8aedba4 100644
--- a/code/modules/research/xenobiology/xenobiology.dm
+++ b/code/modules/research/xenobiology/xenobiology.dm
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@
 	user << "<span class='notice'>You offer the sentience potion to [SM]...</span>"
 	being_used = 1
 
-	var/list/mob/dead/observer/candidates = pollCandidates("Do you want to play as [SM.name]?", ROLE_ALIEN, null, ROLE_ALIEN, 50, POLL_IGNORE_SENTIENCE_POTION) // see poll_ignore.dm
+	var/list/mob/dead/observer/candidates = pollCandidatesForMob("Do you want to play as [SM.name]?", ROLE_ALIEN, null, ROLE_ALIEN, 50, POLL_IGNORE_SENTIENCE_POTION, SM) // see poll_ignore.dm
 	var/mob/dead/observer/theghost = null
 	if(candidates.len)
 		theghost = pick(candidates)