---
title: "What is a straw poll? Quick, non-binding votes"
url: "https://simplepoll.rocks/glossary/straw-poll/"
description: "A straw poll is an informal, non-binding vote that shows which way a group leans. When to run one, and how to make one in Slack in a single line."
---

# What is a straw poll?

**Straw poll**: A straw poll is an informal, non-binding vote that shows which way a group is leaning before a real decision is made.

Also known as: straw vote, temperature check, quick poll.

The name likely comes from holding up a straw to see which way the wind blows. A straw poll
doesn't decide anything. It tells you whether there's a decision to make at all.

## Example polls

Paste any of these into the message box in Slack.

```text
/poll "Straw poll, not a decision: should we move standup to 10:00?" "Yes" "No" "No preference"
```

The simplest straw poll, labelled as non-binding. *Free.*

```text
/poll "Quick temperature check: are we ready to cut the release branch today?" "Ready" "Need a day" "Not close" anonymous
```

An anonymous read on readiness, so nobody feels pressure to say ready. *Free.*

## What it's good for

- **Testing whether an idea is worth a meeting.** If 90% already agree, skip the meeting.
- **Finding the split early.** If the room is 50/50, you know where to spend the
  discussion.
- **Making quiet opinions visible.** A poll gets answers from people who wouldn't speak up
  in a thread.

## The mistake people make

Treating it as the decision. People answer a straw poll quickly and without full context,
and they vote differently when it counts. Say "not a decision" in the question. If the
result is close or the stakes are high, follow up with a proper vote: `limit 1` (Premium)
for one vote each, or a [ranked poll](https://simplepoll.rocks/glossary/ranked-choice-voting/) when there are
several options.

## Running one in Slack

A straw poll should take seconds to post and seconds to answer. In Simple Poll that's a
plain `/poll` with a question and two to four options, no settings needed, on the Free
plan. Add `anonymous` if you want people's honest lean rather than their public
position.

## FAQ

### Is a straw poll binding?

No. It's a read of opinion. If you need a decision, run a vote with clear rules and a
deadline.

### What is the difference between a straw poll and a regular poll?

Intent. The mechanics are the same; a straw poll is explicitly informal and doesn't
settle anything.

## Related

- [How to create a poll in Slack](https://simplepoll.rocks/guides/how-to-create-a-poll-in-slack/): Slack has no poll button of its own. Its help centre suggests two routes: install a polling app, or post a message and ask people to vote with emoji reactions. This guide covers the app route with Simple Poll, used by 945,000+ teams, because it gives you a real poll: counted votes, anonymous voting, one-vote limits and a clean result.
- [How to use the /poll command in Slack](https://simplepoll.rocks/guides/how-to-use-the-poll-slash-command/): /poll is Simple Poll's slash command. Typed on its own, it opens the poll form. Typed with a question, options and a few keywords, it builds the whole poll in one line, shows you a preview, and posts it. This page is the reference for the one-line version.
- [What is an anonymous poll?](https://simplepoll.rocks/glossary/anonymous-poll/): An anonymous poll records votes without showing who cast them: everyone sees the totals, and nobody can see which person picked which answer. In Simple Poll that includes the person who created the poll.
- [What is a single-choice poll?](https://simplepoll.rocks/glossary/single-choice-poll/): A single-choice poll lets each voter pick exactly one option. The result shows how a group splits when everyone has to commit to a single answer.

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Straw poll](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_poll)

---

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