--- title: "Emoji polls in Slack, plus poll emoji to copy and paste" url: "https://simplepoll.rocks/guides/how-to-make-an-emoji-poll-in-slack/" description: "The poll emoji codes to copy into Slack, how a reaction-vote poll works and where it falls short, and how to give each Simple Poll option its own emoji." --- # How to make an emoji poll in Slack "Emoji poll" means two things in Slack. One is a message where people vote by reacting with an emoji, which needs no app. The other is a proper poll where each option carries an emoji, which reads faster and still counts votes properly. This page covers both, plus the poll emoji themselves. ## Steps 1. **Pick an emoji code for each option** Use Slack emoji codes, the words between colons: `:pizza:`, `:taco:`, `:beach_with_umbrella:`. Type a colon in Slack's message box to search for one. 2. **Put each code right after its option** `/poll "Where should the offsite be?" "Beach" :beach_with_umbrella: "Mountains" :mountain: "City" :cityscape:`. The code goes after the closing quote, not inside it. 3. **Add any settings** Settings go after the last emoji: `anonymous`, `limit 1` (Premium), `close after 1 day` (Premium). 4. **Preview and post** Press Enter, check that each option shows its emoji, and click **Create Poll**. ## Example polls Paste any of these into the message box in Slack. ```text /poll "Team lunch on Friday?" "Pizza" :pizza: "Tacos" :taco: "Sushi" :sushi: "Salad" :green_salad: ``` Each option with its own emoji. Free. *Free.* ```text /poll "Where should the offsite be?" "Beach" :beach_with_umbrella: "Mountains" :mountain: "City" :cityscape: anonymous limit 1 ``` Emoji options on an anonymous, one-vote poll (Premium). *Premium: vote limits.* ```text /poll "Ship on Friday?" ":white_check_mark: Yes" ":x: No" ":thinking_face: Need more info" ``` Emoji inside the option text. Free. *Free.* ```text /poll "What should our next team ritual be?" short text :tada: ``` Ideas people can vote on with a party popper. Free. *Free.* ## Poll emoji to copy and paste For the message that announces a poll, or a channel name or canvas: - 📊 `:bar_chart:`, the usual poll emoji - 🗳️ `:ballot_box_with_ballot:`, for a vote - ✅ `:white_check_mark:` and ❌ `:x:`, for yes and no - 👍 `:thumbsup:` and 👎 `:thumbsdown:` - 🤔 `:thinking_face:`, for "need more info" Type the code in Slack and it turns into the emoji. Outside Slack, copy the emoji itself. ## The reaction-vote poll, and its limits Slack's own help centre describes a quick, informal poll: write a message listing the options with an emoji for each, send it, add one reaction per option yourself, and let people vote by reacting. Each reaction shows its count on the message. It's fine for "pizza or tacos". It breaks down for anything that matters: - **Not anonymous.** Anyone can hover over a reaction to see who added it. - **No one-vote rule.** People can react with every option. - **No deadline.** Reactions keep changing after you've read the result. - **Stray reactions.** Someone adds `:joy:` and now there's a fourth option. More on this in [polling Slack without an app](https://simplepoll.rocks/guides/how-to-poll-in-slack-without-an-app/). ## Emoji on a real poll In Simple Poll, an emoji after each option makes the poll scannable, especially on mobile and for options with long names. The votes are still counted by the poll, so you keep `anonymous`, `limit 1`, `close after` and hidden results. Option emoji work on anonymous polls too. In a [survey](https://simplepoll.rocks/guides/how-to-create-a-survey-in-slack/), emoji after an option are ignored. You can also put an emoji inside an option's quotes, such as `":white_check_mark: Yes"`, and it shows as part of the option text. ## Let people vote on ideas with a reaction For brainstorms, `short text :bulb:` collects free-text ideas and lets people vote on each idea with that reaction. The reactions you can use are `:thumbsup:` `:bulb:` `:heart:` `:joy:` `:tada:` `:rocket:` `:fire:` and `:small_red_triangle:`. ## FAQ ### What is the poll emoji in Slack? There's no single official one. `:bar_chart:` (📊) is the common choice, and `:ballot_box_with_ballot:` (🗳️) is used for votes. ### Are emoji reaction polls anonymous? No. In Slack, anyone can hover over or tap and hold a reaction to see who added it. Use a poll with `anonymous` when names matter. ### Can I stop people voting for more than one emoji? Not with reactions. With Simple Poll, add `limit 1` (Premium) and each person gets one vote. ### Do option emoji work on anonymous polls? Yes. Add `anonymous` after the last emoji. ## Related - [How to poll in Slack without an app](https://simplepoll.rocks/guides/how-to-poll-in-slack-without-an-app/): Slack doesn't have a poll feature of its own. Its help centre gives two options: install a polling app from the Slack Marketplace, or run a quick, informal poll in a message where people vote with emoji reactions. On paid Slack plans there's a third route, a Workflow Builder form. - [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. - [How to limit votes in a Slack poll](https://simplepoll.rocks/guides/how-to-limit-votes-in-a-slack-poll/): By default, a Simple Poll lets each person pick as many options as they like. That's right for "which days can you make?" and wrong for "which date should we pick?". A vote limit caps how many options each person can choose: limit 1 for single choice, limit 2 or more for "pick your top two". Vote limits are a Premium feature. - [Team lunch poll for Slack](https://simplepoll.rocks/templates/team-lunch/): When you are organising a team lunch or a food order and need a decision before someone has to book or order. - [What is a straw poll?](https://simplepoll.rocks/glossary/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. ## Sources - [How can I use my own emoji?](https://help.simplepoll.rocks/article/40-how-can-i-use-my-own-emoji) - [How can I use my own emojis in anonymous polls?](https://help.simplepoll.rocks/article/41-how-can-i-use-my-own-emojis-in-anonymous-polls) - [Conversations: Create a poll in Slack (Slack help centre)](https://slack.com/help/articles/229002507-Conversations--Create-a-poll-in-Slack) - [Use emoji and reactions (Slack help centre)](https://slack.com/help/articles/206870317-Use-emoji-reactions) --- Simple Poll is the #1 polls and surveys app for Slack. Add it to Slack: https://simplepoll.rocks/. Pricing: https://simplepoll.rocks/pricing/.