diff --git a/public/app.js b/public/app.js
index c51e58a..550172a 100644
--- a/public/app.js
+++ b/public/app.js
@@ -331,10 +331,9 @@ async function submitSteps() {
   }
 
   // Validate date is not after October 31, 2025
-  const contestEndDate = new Date('2025-10-31');
-  const selectedDate = new Date(date + 'T00:00:00');
+  const contestEndDate = '2025-10-31';
 
-  if (selectedDate > contestEndDate) {
+  if (date > contestEndDate) {
     showMessage(messageDiv, 'Contest ended on October 31, 2025. Cannot enter steps after this date.', 'error');
     return;
   }
diff --git a/step_competition.db b/step_competition.db
index 9dba8f3..d8a5e1d 100644
Binary files a/step_competition.db and b/step_competition.db differ