                 } else {
                     //println("success")
                     // no error codes - get parsing...
-                    let shortcuts:Dictionary<String, AnyObject>! = dict["shortcuts"] as Dictionary<String, AnyObject>
+                    let shortcuts:Dictionary<String, AnyObject>! = dict["shortcuts"]as! Dictionary<String, AnyObject>
                     // typecasting makes it all okay...
-                    var wmc:Int = shortcuts["WMC"] as Int
+                    var wmc:Int = shortcuts["WMC"] as! Int
                     // id is now whatever we've retrieved it to be
                     id = wmc
                     

                    
                    // they're standing this year!
                    // let's instanciate a candidate object for them, and add relevant information...
                    var name = personInfo["name"] as String
                    var partyMemberships = personInfo["party_memberships"] as NSDictionary
                    var partyName = partyMemberships.objectForKey("2015")?.objectForKey("name") as NSString
                    var candidate:Candidate = Candidate(name: name, party: partyName)

                    array.append(candidate)
                }

                
                var dict:Dictionary<String, AnyObject>!
                
                dict = data as! Dictionary<String, AnyObject>
                
                if (dict["code"] != nil) {
                    println("error code present!")
