diff --git a/code/modules/vote/vote_verb.dm b/code/modules/vote/vote_verb.dm
index 3198a8fabd8..9e612432814 100644
--- a/code/modules/vote/vote_verb.dm
+++ b/code/modules/vote/vote_verb.dm
@@ -5,18 +5,18 @@
 	if(SSvote.active_vote)
 		SSvote.active_vote.tgui_interact(usr)
 	else
-		to_chat(usr, "There is no active vote")
+		to_chat(usr, span_warning("There is no active vote"))
 
 /client/proc/start_vote()
 	set category = "Admin"
 	set name = "Start Vote"
 	set desc = "Start a vote on the server"
 
-	if(!is_admin())
+	if(!is_admin(usr))
 		return
 
 	if(SSvote.active_vote)
-		to_chat(usr, "A vote is already in progress")
+		to_chat(usr, span_warning("A vote is already in progress"))
 		return
 
 	var/vote_types = subtypesof(/datum/vote)