diff --git a/.example.env b/.example.env
index 24118c0..a39bee7 100644
--- a/.example.env
+++ b/.example.env
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 GUILD_ID=GUILD_ID
 BOT_TOKEN="BOT_TOKEN"
 SKULLBOARD_CHANNEL_ID=SKULLBOARD_CHANNEL_ID
-REQUIRED_REACTIONS=3
-DATA_FILE=skullboard_data.json
\ No newline at end of file
+REQUIRED_REACTIONS=5
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/commands/skullboard.py b/src/commands/skullboard.py
index 4366dcf..726580e 100644
--- a/src/commands/skullboard.py
+++ b/src/commands/skullboard.py
@@ -1,79 +1,67 @@
 import os
-import json
 from discord import Embed, Client
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
 
 # Load environment variables from .env file
 load_dotenv()
 
-DATA_FILE = os.getenv("DATA_FILE")
 REQUIRED_REACTIONS = int(os.getenv("REQUIRED_REACTIONS"))
 
 
 class SkullboardManager:
     def __init__(self, client: Client):
         self.client = client
-        self.data_file = DATA_FILE
         self.required_reactions = REQUIRED_REACTIONS
-        self.message_map = {}
-        self.load_data()
-
-    # Load existing data from JSON file if available
-    def load_data(self):
-        if os.path.exists(self.data_file):
-            with open(self.data_file, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
-                self.message_map = json.load(f)
-
-    # Save data to JSON file
-    def save_data(self):
-        with open(self.data_file, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
-            json.dump(self.message_map, f)
 
     # Function to handle reactions and update/delete skullboard messages
-    async def handle_skullboard(self, message, skullboard_channel_id, value):
+    async def handle_skullboard(self, message, skullboard_channel_id):
         skullboard_channel = self.client.get_channel(skullboard_channel_id)
         if not skullboard_channel:
             return
 
         emoji = "💀"
-        message_id_str = str(message.id)
-
-        if message_id_str in self.message_map:
-            skullboard_message_id, current_count = self.message_map[message_id_str]
-        else:
-            skullboard_message_id = None
-            current_count = 0
-
-        if value == "ADD":
-            current_count += 1
-        elif value == "REMOVE":
-            current_count = max(0, current_count - 1)
+        current_count = next(
+            (
+                reaction.count
+                for reaction in message.reactions
+                if reaction.emoji == emoji
+            ),
+            0,
+        )
 
-        self.message_map[message_id_str] = (skullboard_message_id, current_count)
         await self.update_or_send_skullboard_message(
             skullboard_channel, message, current_count, emoji
         )
-        self.save_data()
 
     # Function to update or send skullboard message
     async def update_or_send_skullboard_message(
         self, channel, message, current_count, emoji
     ):
-        skullboard_message_id, _ = self.message_map.get(str(message.id), (None, 0))
+        skullboard_message_id = None
+        message_jump_url = message.jump_url
 
-        if skullboard_message_id:
-            await self.edit_or_send_skullboard_message(
-                channel,
-                message,
-                current_count,
-                emoji,
-                send=False,
-                skullboard_message_id=skullboard_message_id,
-            )
-        else:
-            await self.edit_or_send_skullboard_message(
-                channel, message, current_count, emoji, send=True
-            )
+        async for skullboard_message in channel.history(limit=100):
+            if message_jump_url in skullboard_message.content:
+                skullboard_message_id = skullboard_message.id
+                break
+
+        if current_count >= self.required_reactions:
+            if skullboard_message_id:
+                await self.edit_or_send_skullboard_message(
+                    channel,
+                    message,
+                    current_count,
+                    emoji,
+                    send=False,
+                    skullboard_message_id=skullboard_message_id,
+                )
+            else:
+                await self.edit_or_send_skullboard_message(
+                    channel, message, current_count, emoji, send=True
+                )
+        elif skullboard_message_id:
+            skullboard_message = await channel.fetch_message(skullboard_message_id)
+            await skullboard_message.delete()
 
     # Function to edit or send skullboard message
     async def edit_or_send_skullboard_message(
@@ -98,7 +86,7 @@ async def edit_or_send_skullboard_message(
 
         # Constructing the embed
         embed = Embed(
-            description=(f"{message.content}\n\n"),
+            description=f"{message.content}\n\n",
             timestamp=message.created_at,
         )
         # Set user nickname and thumbnail
@@ -106,11 +94,7 @@ async def edit_or_send_skullboard_message(
 
         # Determine if sending or editing the message
         if send:
-            skullboard_message = await channel.send(message_content, embed=embed)
-            self.message_map[str(message.id)] = (skullboard_message.id, current_count)
+            await channel.send(message_content, embed=embed)
         else:
             skullboard_message = await channel.fetch_message(skullboard_message_id)
             await skullboard_message.edit(content=message_content, embed=embed)
-
-        # Save the updated message_map to the JSON file after each modification
-        self.save_data()
diff --git a/src/main.py b/src/main.py
index 4e40b5e..c9b8738 100644
--- a/src/main.py
+++ b/src/main.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 # Load environment variables from .env file
 load_dotenv()
 
-# Retrieve environment variables
 GUILD_ID = int(os.environ["GUILD_ID"])
 BOT_TOKEN = os.environ["BOT_TOKEN"]
 SKULLBOARD_CHANNEL_ID = int(os.environ["SKULLBOARD_CHANNEL_ID"])
@@ -67,7 +66,7 @@ async def on_raw_reaction_add(self, payload: RawReactionActionEvent):
             # Ignore reactions to own messages
             if message.author.id != self.user.id:
                 await self.skullboard_manager.handle_skullboard(
-                    message, SKULLBOARD_CHANNEL_ID, "ADD"
+                    message, SKULLBOARD_CHANNEL_ID
                 )
 
     async def on_raw_reaction_remove(self, payload: RawReactionActionEvent):
@@ -77,7 +76,7 @@ async def on_raw_reaction_remove(self, payload: RawReactionActionEvent):
             # Ignore reactions to own messages
             if message.author.id != self.user.id:
                 await self.skullboard_manager.handle_skullboard(
-                    message, SKULLBOARD_CHANNEL_ID, "REMOVE"
+                    message, SKULLBOARD_CHANNEL_ID
                 )