WhatsApp, a leading instant messaging app, boasts various features that cater to the communication needs of over two billion users worldwide.
One such feature is the ability to create polls within the app, making gathering opinions, scheduling events, or settling light-hearted disputes a breeze.
When using this feature, One question often arises: “Can a WhatsApp poll be edited?” This query usually pops up when a user creates a poll and later wants to modify it.
Today, we will delve into this topic, provide a quick answer, and further discuss various aspects of WhatsApp polling.
Quick Answer
As of the time of writing this article, WhatsApp does not natively support editing polls once they’ve been created.
Any changes you might want to implement, such as adding or altering options, would require you to delete the poll and create a new one.
While this might seem inconvenient, it’s crucial to remember that the integrity of the voting process could be compromised if poll editing was allowed post-voting.
In case of a necessary alteration, it’s best to delete and recreate the poll.
How to Create a Poll on WhatsApp
Creating a poll on WhatsApp is not directly supported within the app itself. However, it can be done easily using third-party poll creation applications such as Polls for WhatsApp, Doodle, or SurveyMonkey.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a WhatsApp poll using these external applications:
- Download and Install a Polling Application: Choose a reliable polling application based on user reviews and download it from your phone’s application store.
- Create a New Poll: Once the app is installed, open it and select the option to create a new poll. You will then be prompted to enter the question for the poll and the possible answers or options.
- Share the Poll: After the poll is set up, you can share it on WhatsApp by selecting the ‘Share’ or ‘Send’ option, which will typically allow you to select WhatsApp from a list of sharing platforms.
Remember that the specifics of this process can vary between different polling apps, so always refer to the specific application’s instructions or help center if you encounter any issues.
Can you delete a poll in WhatsApp?
Yes, you can. While WhatsApp doesn’t natively support polls, the poll you created through third-party apps can usually be deleted via the same app.
Why Edit a WhatsApp Poll?
There could be several reasons why a user might want to edit a WhatsApp poll. Here are some common scenarios:
Additional Options Required: After setting up the poll, you might realize that you missed out on some crucial options that need to be included.
For instance, when scheduling a meeting, new potential dates might emerge that were not initially considered.
Typographical Errors: Mistakes can happen. You might have made a typographical error in the poll question or the options provided and want to correct them.
Changes in Circumstances: Sometimes, the circumstances surrounding a poll may change. For example, an option might become unavailable, or a new option might become possible, necessitating an edit to the poll.
Alternatives for Conducting Editable Polls
While WhatsApp doesn’t support editable polls directly within its platform, don’t worry.
There are several other platforms and methods that you can use to conduct polls that can be edited even after they’ve been created.
Google Forms: Google Forms is a free tool offered by Google that allows you to create customizable polls and surveys.
One of the best features of Google Forms is the ability to edit the form even after it’s been shared and responses have been recorded. You can then share the link to the form in your WhatsApp group.
Doodle: Doodle is another popular online scheduling tool that allows you to create polls, including editable ones. With Doodle, you can add, delete, or edit options in a poll, even after it has been published.
SurveyMonkey: SurveyMonkey is a robust tool that lets you create detailed surveys, including editable ones. Like Google Forms, you can change your survey even after it has been shared.
Facebook Groups: If your group also interacts on Facebook, you can consider creating a poll in your Facebook group.
Facebook allows you to edit the options in your poll after it has been created, although the poll question itself cannot be edited.
Deleting a WhatsApp Poll
As we’ve established earlier, polls in WhatsApp aren’t a native feature but are created using third-party applications.
Therefore, deleting a WhatsApp poll isn’t done within WhatsApp itself but in the third-party app you used to create the poll.
Here’s a general guide on how to delete a poll:
- Open the Polling Application: Access the polling app you used to create the WhatsApp poll.
- Navigate to Your Polls: Find the section where your created polls are stored. This might be labeled as ‘My Polls’, ‘Created Polls’, or something similar depending on the app.
- Select the Poll: Choose the poll you wish to delete. Three dots or lines might represent a menu or options button.
- Delete the Poll: Look for a ‘Delete’ or ‘Remove’ option in the menu. Confirm your decision if prompted.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Can I Edit a Poll on WhatsApp?
As of now, WhatsApp doesn’t support the direct creation or editing of polls within the app. If you create a poll using a third-party app and share it on WhatsApp, editing capabilities depend on the specific third-party app.
However, most polling apps don’t allow for editing once a poll has been created.
Q2. Can You See Who Voted in a WhatsApp Poll?
The ability to see who voted in a WhatsApp poll depends on the third-party polling app you used to create the poll.
Some apps allow viewing individual votes, while others keep votes anonymous. Always check the settings and features of your chosen polling app.
Q3. How Do I Delete a Poll from a WhatsApp Group?
Deleting a poll from a WhatsApp group requires you to delete the poll from the third-party app used to create it.
This process varies between apps but generally involves finding your list of created polls, selecting the poll in question, and choosing a delete or remove option.
Q4. How Do I Add More Options to a WhatsApp Poll?
Once a poll has been created via a third-party app and shared on WhatsApp, it cannot be edited to add more options. Your best bet is to delete the original poll and create a new one with the additional options.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while WhatsApp is a powerful tool for group communication, it currently lacks native support for creating, editing, or deleting polls within the app.
Users must resort to third-party applications to create polls, which are then shared on WhatsApp.
The capabilities of these third-party apps, such as whether you can edit or delete a poll, vary widely, so it’s crucial to understand the limitations of your chosen polling app.
Although this may seem inconvenient, it’s important to remember that WhatsApp offers a plethora of other features that make it an excellent communication tool, such as end-to-end encryption for secure chats and the ability to share media and documents.
