Fraternity and sorority surveys help chapters gather member feedback, conduct fair elections, and strengthen organizational engagement. Moving from paper ballots to online surveys streamlines the process—improving vote accuracy, anonymity, and participation while cutting costs and preventing fraud. Digital surveys also simplify data collection and analysis, providing secure, GDPR-compliant tools to ensure privacy and transparency. Beyond elections, member surveys can uncover insights into campus involvement, leadership experiences, and chapter satisfaction. By analyzing results thoughtfully, Greek organizations can improve operations, reinforce values, and foster a more inclusive and supportive community experience for all members.
Create your fraternity or sorority survey, form, or poll now!
Like most large groups of people, fraternities and sororities sometimes need to survey their members. These surveys are often conducted at the university or campus level, where fraternities and sororities are integral parts of the campus community. Surveys can help understand the experiences and outcomes of members joining these organizations, including their sense of belonging and engagement within the university environment. For these Greek organizations, surveys can be used for voting on potential pledges, party themes, philanthropic endeavors, and more. Of course, one of the most common uses of surveys for fraternities and sororities across the country is to vote on the key roles within the chapter (such as fraternity/sorority president, recruitment chairperson, treasurer, house manager, and other organization-specific roles). So, here’s how to survey your fraternity or sorority for various leadership positions.
The Fraternity and Sorority Democratic Process
Running for fraternity president (or sorority president) is a fine way to recreate the democratic process and help build political experience (both for those running for different positions and the members of the house voting for their favorite candidates). The election process is typically organized into specific steps or sections to ensure fairness and clarity for all participants.
However, managing these elections isn’t always easy. Ensuring that every fraternity or sorority member has a fair chance to vote, keeping the election within the sorority/fraternity budget, and keeping people honest are just a few of the challenges that the fraternity and sorority members managing the election must face. Conducting an assessment of the election process can help identify areas for improvement and ensure effective chapter operations.
Using online tools for sorority and fraternity elections can be a great way to ease the process and ensure every member of your Greek organization gets a fair chance to vote. Before we get into how going online can help with running a sorority election or a fraternity election, let’s take a look at the traditional voting process.
The “Traditional” Sorority/Fraternity Election Process for House Officers
While specific Greek organizations (and even individual chapters on certain campuses) might have a different fraternity voting system or sorority election process, the traditional election process is often based on longstanding chapter practices and data from previous years. Some chapters may update their election process each year to reflect new challenges or feedback. There are two key components to most elections:
A Weekend Debate Event
The current leadership arranges a specific day for candidates to make their arguments before the whole of the brotherhood/sisterhood for why they’re the best person for the position. This is typically done on the weekends so the society’s members have the free time to listen to speeches (and ask candidates their sorority and fraternity election questions) without worrying about having to get up early for class the next day. Note that previous research and chapter experiences have shown the value of these debate events in informing voting decisions. Members are encouraged to read candidate statements or materials before the debate to be better prepared to ask questions.
A Written Ballot
After the debates and speeches, fraternity/sorority members receive their ballots to fill out. In particularly close elections, a recount may need to occur for various positions.
The trouble with the process is often the written ballot. While good scheduling and time management help ensure that the debates and speeches don’t drag on until 3 am, a paper ballot is easy to lose, damage, or miscount. The format of the ballot can also influence voting behaviors and participation, as members may be more or less likely to engage depending on how accessible and clear the process is. This is a common problem even with government-run elections! Ensuring a fair and transparent process helps members feel satisfied with the election outcome, contributing to a sense of trust and fulfillment within the chapter.
Create your fraternity or sorority survey, form, or poll now!
Going Online with Greek Elections
As an alternative to relying on paper ballots that can be lost or damaged, your Greek organization may want to turn to an online voting option. Researchers have studied the impact of online voting on fraternity and sorority elections, finding that it can improve participation and transparency. In addition, the addition of online voting provides further benefits beyond traditional methods, such as increased convenience and security. Going online with Greek elections can help fraternities and sororities by:
Improving Vote Collection
With paper ballots, it’s all too easy to lose a vote. Not so with an online form! Also, using a digital voting tool can help ensure that every voter fills in responses for every position (you can require a response for questions with SurveyLegend!).
Improving Anonymity
In-person voting can be compromised through nothing more than an over-the-shoulder peek (or a ballot dropping to the floor). Online surveys allow voting from members’ phones with electronic ballots, which can make them the ideal sorority and fraternity anonymous voting solution for privacy reasons. Surveys can also include questions where members indicate whether they agree or disagree that the online voting process is truly anonymous.
Eliminating Count Errors
One of the problems with traditional paper ballots is that manually counting the votes can lead to inconsistencies. For example, there are numerous cases where ballots being recounted led to controversy (such as the infamous Florida recount in the 2000 presidential election). Electronic votes are easier to collect and count, eliminating errors from manual counting methods.
Create your fraternity or sorority survey, form, or poll now!
Reducing Costs
Printing and distributing dozens (or even hundreds) of ballots takes time and money. Using an online voting form that you can send to every frat/sorority member’s inbox costs virtually nothing and takes a fraction of the time. There are even some free survey tools you can use to deliver ballots electronically.
Preventing Fraud
Manipulation of paper ballots can be easy. A lost ballot here or a quick scribble there can invalidate a vote. Electronic voting not only eliminates confusion, but it also makes sure that each person gets one vote for each position. So, electronic voting can help ensure fairness in fraternity and sorority elections.
On top of all of these benefits, using electronic voting tools simply makes things easier for your election managers. Instead of having to sit down and manually go through every ballot, they can set up a bar chart view and see who won each position with a clear, easy-to-understand view.
Ensuring Security and Privacy (and Honesty)
Some have concerns about the security and privacy of electronic ballots. Many people worry about their votes not being anonymous or private when they use an electronic ballot that was emailed to them, and some even worry about the risk of electronic votes being manipulated.
At SurveyLegend, we work to assuage these concerns by using top-class security in our survey tools. Our surveys are encrypted with TLS v1.2 and meet the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) standards for data security and privacy. Data transfers within the SurveyLegend site, app, and survey form use encryption so your data is safe from prying eyes.
Wondering how to run a sorority election? Running for fraternity president? Or just want chapter input on the next Greek party theme? SurveyLegend has you covered. We protect your respondents’ data so fraternity and sorority members can rest easy instead of wondering about potential security risks.
Create your fraternity or sorority survey, form, or poll now!
Analyzing Results
Analyzing the results of a sorority experience survey is a vital step in understanding what matters most to your sorority members and how your chapter can better support their college journey. A well-designed survey provides valuable data that can inform chapter operations, reinforce organizational values, and enhance the overall sorority experience.
When you receive responses from your survey, start by using online tools to organize and visualize the data. These tools make it easier to spot trends and patterns in member feedback, whether you’re looking at opinions on chapter events, satisfaction with academic experiences, or perceptions of community belonging. By examining the data, you can assess how sorority membership is impacting student learning, life outcomes, and well-being.
It’s important to look beyond just the numbers. Consider how the survey results reflect the broader college experience of your members, including their academic development, involvement in service, and participation in bystander intervention programs. If your survey included questions about sensitive topics like alcohol or drug use, use the data to identify areas where your chapter can provide additional support or resources.
To gain deeper insights, consider organizing focus groups with members who are willing to share more about their experiences. These discussions can help clarify survey responses, uncover new ideas, and provide examples of challenges or successes that may not be fully captured in the survey data. Focus groups are especially useful for exploring complex issues related to chapter operations, organizational values, and the sense of community within your sorority.
Create your fraternity or sorority survey, form, or poll now!
Once you’ve analyzed the results, use your findings to guide decision-making. Officers and chapter leaders can use the data to develop new programs, improve existing services, and address concerns raised by members. For example, if the survey reveals a need for more academic support or better bystander intervention training, you can set goals and organize initiatives to meet those needs. Sharing a summary report with your chapter helps keep everyone informed and engaged in the process of continuous improvement.
Remember to consider the limitations of your survey. Be mindful of potential biases in the responses and ensure that the survey design protects the anonymity and privacy of your members. The goal is to use the results to support and empower your members, not to single out individuals or assign blame.
By thoughtfully analyzing the results of your sorority experience survey, your chapter can make data-driven decisions that strengthen your organization, promote student learning, and enhance the well-being of all members. This process not only improves chapter operations and organizational values but also helps create a more supportive and inclusive community—making the college experience more rewarding for everyone involved.
Conclusion
Wondering how to run a sorority election? Running for fraternity president? Or just want chapter input on the next Greek party theme? All of these are great reasons for holding fraternity or sorority elections online.
When you’re ready to create your online ballot, survey, or poll, SurveyLegend has you covered. We protect your respondents’ data so fraternity and sorority members can rest easy instead of wondering about potential security risks. Want to learn more about SurveyLegend? Get started today for free.
Have other ideas on how to use online surveys, such as voting during fraternity or sorority rush? Hit us up with your ideas below!
If you have additional questions about fraternity or sorority surveys or online voting, please contact us for more information.
Create your fraternity or sorority survey, form, or poll now!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why do fraternities or sororities need surveys?
Greek organizations can use surveys to vote on chapter leadership positions, rushees and pledges, party themes, philanthropic endeavors, and more.
How do online surveys benefit fraternities and sororities?
Online surveys improve vote collection, improve anonymity, eliminate count errors, reduce costs, and prevent fraud.
How does online voting save a fraternity or sorority money?
Printing and distributing ballots can be expensive, whereas online voting is free or costs very little.
How can my fraternity or sorority vote online?
You can hold an online Greek election using an online voting platform such as SurveyLegend.
Do I need a specific degree to design or analyze fraternity or sorority surveys?
No, you do not need a specific degree to design or analyze fraternity or sorority surveys. While having an academic qualification such as a degree in statistics, social sciences, or a related field can be helpful, most surveys can be created and interpreted effectively with practical experience and the right online tools.
