diff --git a/dashboard.php b/dashboard.php
index 95629bd..679bce3 100644
--- a/dashboard.php
+++ b/dashboard.php
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ $totalVotes->execute([$electionId]);
 $totalVotes = $totalVotes->fetchColumn();
 
 // Chart Data: Participation per Grade Level
-$gradeStats = $pdo->prepare("SELECT COALESCE(u.grade_level, 'Unknown') as label, COUNT(DISTINCT v.voter_id) as count 
+$gradeStats = $pdo->prepare("SELECT COALESCE(u.grade_level::TEXT, 'Unknown') as label, COUNT(DISTINCT v.voter_id) as count 
     FROM users u JOIN votes v ON u.id = v.voter_id 
     WHERE v.election_id = ?
     GROUP BY u.grade_level ORDER BY u.grade_level");
diff --git a/db/config.php b/db/config.php
index 2c44b7b..4ae292a 100644
--- a/db/config.php
+++ b/db/config.php
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ define('SUPABASE_DB_PASS', getenv('SUPABASE_DB_PASS') ?: 'gA82h8K80T5QUAwi'); //
 function db() {
   static $pdo;
   if (!$pdo) {
-    if (defined('SUPABASE_DB_PASS') && !empty(SUPABASE_DB_PASS)) {
+    $useSupabase = defined('SUPABASE_DB_PASS') && !empty(SUPABASE_DB_PASS);
+    
+    if ($useSupabase && extension_loaded('pdo_pgsql')) {
         // Use Supabase PostgreSQL
         $host = 'aws-1-ap-southeast-1.pooler.supabase.com';
         $port = '6543';
@@ -24,20 +26,36 @@ function db() {
             $pdo = new PDO("pgsql:host=$host;port=$port;dbname=$dbname", $user, $pass, [
                 PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE => PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION,
                 PDO::ATTR_DEFAULT_FETCH_MODE => PDO::FETCH_ASSOC,
+                PDO::ATTR_TIMEOUT => 5, // Short timeout for faster fallback
             ]);
-        } catch (PDOException $e) {
-            // Fallback to local MariaDB if PostgreSQL fails
-            $pdo = new PDO('mysql:host='.DB_HOST.';dbname='.DB_NAME.';charset=utf8mb4', DB_USER, DB_PASS, [
-                PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE => PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION,
-                PDO::ATTR_DEFAULT_FETCH_MODE => PDO::FETCH_ASSOC,
-            ]);
+            return $pdo;
+        } catch (PDOException $pgException) {
+            // Keep the error to report it if the fallback also fails
         }
-    } else {
-        // Use local MariaDB
+    }
+
+    // Fallback to local MariaDB/MySQL
+    try {
         $pdo = new PDO('mysql:host='.DB_HOST.';dbname='.DB_NAME.';charset=utf8mb4', DB_USER, DB_PASS, [
             PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE => PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION,
             PDO::ATTR_DEFAULT_FETCH_MODE => PDO::FETCH_ASSOC,
         ]);
+    } catch (PDOException $mysqlException) {
+        if (!extension_loaded('pdo_pgsql')) {
+            die("Connection failed: The 'pdo_pgsql' extension is not enabled in your PHP configuration, and the local MySQL connection also failed.<br>MySQL Error: " . $mysqlException->getMessage());
+        }
+        
+        $errorMsg = "<h3>Database Connection Failed</h3>";
+        if (isset($pgException)) {
+            $errorMsg .= "<strong>PostgreSQL (Supabase) Error:</strong> " . $pgException->getMessage() . "<br><br>";
+        }
+        $errorMsg .= "<strong>Local MySQL Error:</strong> " . $mysqlException->getMessage() . "<br><br>";
+        $errorMsg .= "<strong>Possible Solutions:</strong><br>";
+        $errorMsg .= "1. <strong>Supabase:</strong> Ensure your firewall/ISP allows outgoing connections on <strong>port 6543</strong>. Try disabling your antivirus temporarily.<br>";
+        $errorMsg .= "2. <strong>Local MySQL:</strong> If you want to use local MySQL, update <code>DB_USER</code> and <code>DB_PASS</code> in <code>db/config.php</code> to match your XAMPP settings (usually 'root' and empty password).<br>";
+        $errorMsg .= "3. <strong>Verify extension:</strong> Make sure <code>extension=pdo_pgsql</code> is uncommented in <code>php.ini</code> AND you have restarted Apache.<br>";
+        
+        die($errorMsg);
     }
   }
   return $pdo;