diff --git a/src/electionguard/tally.py b/src/electionguard/tally.py
index db1f0f22..1c358b82 100644
--- a/src/electionguard/tally.py
+++ b/src/electionguard/tally.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class CiphertextTallySelection(ElectionObjectBase, CiphertextSelection):
     """
 
     ciphertext: ElGamalCiphertext = field(
-        default=ElGamalCiphertext(ONE_MOD_P, ONE_MOD_P)
+        default_factory=lambda: ElGamalCiphertext(ONE_MOD_P, ONE_MOD_P)
     )
     """
     The encrypted representation of the total of all ballots for this selection