diff --git a/openstack_election/owners.py b/openstack_election/owners.py
index ad646b97..f4630279 100644
--- a/openstack_election/owners.py
+++ b/openstack_election/owners.py
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ def main(options):
                 owners[owner]['member'] = member['data'][0]['id']
                 break
         invite = [owners[owner].get('member', '0')]
-        invite.append(owners[owner]['name'].encode('utf-8'))
+        invite.append(owners[owner]['name'])
         invite.append(owners[owner]['preferred'])
         invite += owners[owner]['extra']
         invites.append(invite)