Cannot read from a binary file in java (including javafx)

Question

I am trying to read from a binary file that has data (the writing works).Ive attached major parts of the error and added the function I call while I am building my controller:

...
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException: Cannot invoke "java.util.Vector.add(Object)" because "this.listeners" is null
    at mvc_election.model.Election.addListener(Election.java:64)
    at mvc_election.controller.ElectionController.<init>(ElectionController.java:22)
    at application.Election_main.start(Election_main.java:31)
    at javafx.graphics/com.sun.javafx.application.LauncherImpl.lambda$launchApplication1$9(LauncherImpl.java:846)
    at javafx.graphics/com.sun.javafx.application.PlatformImpl.lambda$runAndWait$12(PlatformImpl.java:474)
    at javafx.graphics/com.sun.javafx.application.PlatformImpl.lambda$runLater$10(PlatformImpl.java:447)
    at java.base/java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(AccessController.java:391)
    at javafx.graphics/com.sun.javafx.application.PlatformImpl.lambda$runLater$11(PlatformImpl.java:446)
    at javafx.graphics/com.sun.glass.ui.InvokeLaterDispatcher$Future.run(InvokeLaterDispatcher.java:96)
    at javafx.graphics/com.sun.glass.ui.win.WinApplication._runLoop(Native Method)
    at javafx.graphics/com.sun.glass.ui.win.WinApplication.lambda$runLoop$3(WinApplication.java:174)
    ... 1 more
Exception running application application.Election_main

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ElectionController ec = new ElectionController(Election.read(), aev);

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public static Election read()
            throws FileNotFoundException, IOException, ClassNotFoundException, NotSerializableException {
        ObjectInputStream inFile = null;
        try {
            inFile = new ObjectInputStream(new FileInputStream("Elections.dat"));
            Election temp = (Election) inFile.readObject();
            inFile.close();
            return temp;
        } catch (NotSerializableException nse) {
            System.out.println(nse.getMessage());
        }
        return null;
    }