SurveyMonkey for Voting?

[Kevin]

Is your group online only? If not, why would you ever vote online for anything?

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Is your group online only? If not, why would you ever vote online for anything?

This was going to be my question, but then I thought maybe I was behind the times or something, and a lot of chapters are now doing this..

[misscherrypie]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Is your group online only? If not, why would you ever vote online for anything?

No, although we use Facebook and email pretty extensively to disseminate information and communicate with each other.

To answer your question:
Without getting into ritual and such: Some people were easily swayed by others during chapter meetings in regards to voting. As a result of our Test-driving online chapter votes with our officer elections really seemed to have nipped that in the bud. So, we're interested in expanding it.

[sigmagirl10]

Originally Posted by misscherrypie

No, although we use Facebook and email pretty extensively to disseminate information and communicate with each other.

To answer your question:
Without getting into ritual and such: Some people were easily swayed by others during chapter meetings in regards to voting. As a result of our Test-driving online chapter votes with our officer elections really seemed to have nipped that in the bud. So, we're interested in expanding it.

I can see how this would be useful for the reasons you said, but my concern with anonymous online voting is 1) that it's possible to vote multiple times--I don't think Survey Monkey or Google have a control for this. If you end up with more votes than members, you have to do a revote as you wouldn't know which ones to remove, and that would be annoying. You could also end up with a tech glitch that accidentally double-votes. 2) you have no guarantee that the person who filled out the survey is actually the member. Maybe their boyfriend checked their email and thought it would be funny, or maybe the "swaying" that happened in meeting is so extensive that one sister could convince another to let her vote for her/tell the sister how to vote. See where I'm going with this?

Great that it's confidential and no one has to be embarrassed about how they voted or feel pressured to vote a certain way...but maybe better to vote in person and if your voting rules allow it, have someone impartial there to supervise the person counting? I know different sororities have controls on voting where say, the president counts (and doesn't have a vote) but an alum, advisor, or senior might "supervise" to ensure they don't change the votes.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by sigmagirl10

I can see how this would be useful for the reasons you said, but my concern with anonymous online voting is 1) that it's possible to vote multiple times--I don't think Survey Monkey or Google have a control for this.

This is what I was going to say. I used to work for a Market Research company and SurveyMonkey was notorious for having junk responses.

I'd consider having the election administrator provide a random code to each voting member and include one question with an open-ended response to allow that person to paste their code in place. When you pull the data file, you can cross reference the codes and names to ensure that people are only voting once.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by misscherrypie

No, although we use Facebook and email pretty extensively to disseminate information and communicate with each other.

To answer your question:
Without getting into ritual and such: Some people were easily swayed by others during chapter meetings in regards to voting. As a result of our Test-driving online chapter votes with our officer elections really seemed to have nipped that in the bud. So, we're interested in expanding it.

It's your chapter...

But that's kind of the point of meetings--allowing members to debate and attempt to persuade others when making major decisions. Debate serves to inform both sides and makes sure the arguments are sharpened.

If it works for you, good.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by misscherrypie

No, although we use Facebook and email pretty extensively to disseminate information and communicate with each other.

To answer your question:
Without getting into ritual and such: Some people were easily swayed by others during chapter meetings in regards to voting. As a result of our Test-driving online chapter votes with our officer elections really seemed to have nipped that in the bud. So, we're interested in expanding it.

If intimidation issues are a factor, why not do a secret ballot at the meeting and count the votes? I agree with others that meetings are for the purpose to debate and discuss chapter business, which elections would fall under.

My BSP chapter has 27 members. The only voting we do online is by email and for selecting new members. If a member does not want her vote to go out to the entire chapter, she can submit her vote privately to the VP/Membership Chair.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by misscherrypie

To answer your question:
Without getting into ritual and such: Some people were easily swayed by others during chapter meetings in regards to voting. As a result of our Test-driving online chapter votes with our officer elections really seemed to have nipped that in the bud. So, we're interested in expanding it.

I agree with others who say that meetings/voting should spark debate and discussion. The key is making sure that the discussion that's taking place is helpful and constructive. People being swayed one way or another isn't a bad thing, as long as the decision is based on something of substance.

Just create a way to have a discussion so that it doesn't get out of hand, and "force" members to provide points that are relevant to the nominee's strengths, weaknesses, and ability to perform the job at hand.

Look to your membership selection process/criteria. This may help you create a way to select your officers.