KAPPA’S ELECTION PROCESS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How will the election be run?
The election will be run by a secure third-party company that specializes in voting software to ensure an impartial election of Fraternity officers and District Directors. The election will be overseen by the Election Committee, an appointed group of Kappa volunteers. The third-party election company will be responsible for administering the election through the validation of voters, distributing ballots and counting votes.
What can I expect as a voter going through the election process?
Credentialed voters will receive information about how to participate in the election in March after credentialing closes. After that, the Election Committee will pass the credentialed voter information to the third-party election company.
Credentialed voters will receive emails directly from the election company with information on how to access the voting site, including login credentials, in order to participate in the election.
How will the open nomination process work?
The open nomination process will launch immediately following the announcement of the slated candidates. That email in which the slate is announced will detail how to participate in the open nomination process. Open nominations can only be submitted by eligible voters per the Fraternity Bylaws. Once an individual is nominated, the nominee will then be required to complete the Open Nomination Form and share relevant information so their consent to serve, qualifications and eligibility may be confirmed. Nominees who are not qualified or not eligible will not appear on the ballot. Biographical information shared by the nominee will be shared with voters.
How will voters be able to learn about the candidates?
The qualifications of all candidates who are qualified and eligible will be shared on the election site. Each candidate will have a biography with information about their qualifications, which will have been provided through the application process and/or the Open Nomination Form. For candidates who were nominated through the open nomination process, the Election Committee will share the same information as the slated individuals as best as they are able. If information is not provided by the candidate, it will not be included in the candidate profile.
A list of all candidates will also be posted on the nominations and elections webpage once it becomes available.
Who is an eligible voter?
Per the Fraternity Bylaws, Article VIII. Section 2. E, the following members are eligible to vote in the Fraternity officer and District Director election after they have been credentialed as delegates:
- Fraternity Council members
- District Directors
- Chairs of standing committees
- Content Directors
- One delegate from each chapter
- One delegate from each alumnae association
According to Fraternity Bylaws, Article V. Section 8, associations and chapters must be in financial good standing in order to vote.
How do I nominate someone if I am not an eligible voter?
If you are interested in referring a member as an open nominee, we recommend reaching out to your chapter’s or association’s credentialed delegate or another eligible voter.
What does it mean to be eligible and qualified for an elected position?
Per the Fraternity Bylaws, a member meeting all member standards and responsibilities, academic, financial and conduct, and not under any accountability outcome is a member in good standing and, therefore, eligible for any elected, appointed, or volunteer position within the Fraternity.
Individuals qualified for election to a District Director position or Fraternity Council shall be alumna members who have formerly served the Fraternity within the past 10 years in any one of the following positions: 1) member of Fraternity Council; 2) Regional Director or Province Director; 3) District Director or Content Director; 4) Content Specialist; 5) chair or member of a Fraternity Standing or Special committee; 6) Fraternity Council Assistant; 7) Field Representative; 8) member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation Board of Trustees; or 9) member of the Fraternity Housing Corporation Board of Directors.
What is the deadline to submit an open nomination?
The deadline to submit an open nomination will be April 6 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Open nominee candidates will have until April 7 at 11:59 p.m. ET to complete the Open Nomination Form to share their qualifications, eligibility and consent information.
Are voters expected to vote for the slated candidates?
We recommend that each voter review and educate themselves on the candidates once that information is released in order to make an informed decision. Biographical information about each candidate will be included on the election site as well as on the Kappa website. We also recommend that delegates discuss the candidates with the group of Kappas they represent, such as their chapter or alumna association.
The Leadership Selection Committee (formerly the Nominating Committee) was formed out of a broad representation of the membership. The members of this committee (also known as LSC) began serving in March 2023 and will end their term in August 2024. The LSC is tasked with compiling and presenting a slate of officers for Fraternity Council and 14 District Directors.
The LSC will slate one candidate for each Fraternity Council and District Director position based on the recommendations and feedback received from members, applications, and other materials received from candidates.
Does the election delegate need to be the same person as the Convention delegate?
No, this does not need to be the same person. There will be a separate credentialing process for delegates who will attend General Convention and participate in voting in person during Convention. The credentialed member for elections should be available during the election window to virtually cast their ballot. If they are not, another delegate should be selected.
How do I volunteer for an appointed role?
We welcome any members who are interested in volunteering in an appointed position to complete this FORM to share their interest. This form must be completed by Friday, May 10.
Why did the election format change?
In 2022, the Convention body voted to change Kappa’s Fraternity officer and District Director elections in two important ways:
- The election will take place online as opposed to in person at Convention.
- The election will be completed at least eight weeks before Convention to provide time to transition the Fraternity leadership.
These changes provide the opportunity for more delegates to participate in the election as it removes the requirement of attending Convention, which can be a barrier to some.
Kappa has contracted with a trusted, secure third-party election software company to host Kappa’s Fraternity officer and District Director elections.
How will nominations from the floor be handled?
In lieu of nominations from the floor, we will have an open nomination process that was provided for in the Fraternity Bylaws. When the slated candidates are announced, the open nomination period will also launch. Details of how to participate in the process will be shared via email.
Please keep in mind that nominations can only be submitted by eligible voters per the Fraternity Bylaws. Nominees will be required to complete the Open Nomination Form and share relevant information so the consent, qualifications and eligibility of the nominee may be confirmed. Nominees who are not qualified or not eligible will not appear on the ballot as they would not be qualified or eligible to be an elected officer.
Per the Fraternity Bylaws, the open nomination process will last for 10 days.
How will the candidates’ qualifications be shared?
Qualifications of all candidates who are qualified and eligible (including those submitted through the open nomination process) will be shared on the election site. Each candidate will have a biography with information about their qualifications. For candidates who were not slated, the Election Committee will be relying on the information provided through the open nomination process. If information is not provided by the candidate, it will not be included in the candidate profile.
How will the results be certified?
Kappa’s trusted third-party election vendor will certify the election results and then provide them to the Election Committee. The results will be shared with the membership within five days of the close of the election.
Will the election software be tested?
Yes, the election will be tested vigorously prior to the election launching. It will be initially tested once the slated candidates are released and can be entered into the election system. It will then be tested again following the open nomination period once all candidates are finalized and can be added to the ballot.
How will I know my ballot will be kept private?
The chosen election vendor’s systems provide strict voter secrecy. Voter identity, required for security purposes, is retained separate and distinct from the contents of the ballot. No one, not even an employee at the company, can identify the vote of any individual. This is accomplished without compromising the ability to verify accuracy or conduct an audit.
The voter's identity and actual vote selection are separated in a manner that prevents them from being rejoined. This measure guarantees that neither the election host nor a third party is able to determine the way in which a voter votes.
How will the election provider confirm that only credentialed delegates will cast votes?
Credentialed delegates will be provided a unique set of credentials that will be used by the voting website to confirm their identity.
How will I know my vote has been cast and counted?
After submitting your ballot, you will receive a confirmation message affirming that your ballot has been received.
How can the election vendor prevent individuals from voting multiple times?
Each ballot contains a unique, tamper-proof, modulus 10 check digit number (unique identifier) to guard against tampering and duplication. Each unique identifier is disabled immediately after a ballot is processed. This prevents the number from being used to log into the voting website again or submit multiple ballots. This ensures only one vote per member.
Can I change my vote after casting it?
After you make your selections using the internet voting website, a confirmation screen will be displayed. At that time, you will review your selections and may either make a change or submit your ballot for processing. Once your ballot is submitted it cannot be changed.
When will the election results be shared?
Election results will be shared after the election is completed. These will be shared no later than May 6.