# The Polling feature is enabled. Here's how to use it
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [September 22, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109 "2009-09-22T18:00:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/1 "2009-09-22T18:00:26Z")
RULES
We’re not really changing any rules here. Polls have always been allowed in IMHO, but now they’re automated. We know this is a fun new toy to play with, but PLEASE don’t overwhelm the forum with a zillion new polls right away or all of the other threads will get pushed right off the main page.
Remember that a poll is a feature attached to a regular thread. You can still discuss the results using normal posts. There is no need to post to the thread in order to vote, though.
CREATING A POLL
To create a poll, just do your usual “Post New Thread” process. The OP you type will appear _below_ the poll, as this one does. After you’ve entered the title and typed the OP, scroll down to the “additional options” box and look for “post a poll.”
Check the box “Yes, post a poll with this thread,” and fill in the number of options you’ll have available.
Click “Submit New Thread” and you’ll be taken to a new screen, where you can create the poll itself.
Under “Poll question,” fill in the text you want people to see above the poll (remember, your OP will show up below it).
Under “Poll options,” fill in one answer per box. If you goofed on the number of answers, go to the “number of poll options” box, change the number, and click “Update Options.”
The “Poll timeout” allows you to create polls that only stay open for a specified number of days. Leave it blank to leave the poll open indefinitely.
There are two new options under “Miscellaneous options”:
- “Allow multiple choice” presents viewers with checkboxes instead of radio buttons, so they can choose more than one option. This is for the “check all that apply” polls, as opposed to the “pick the one best answer” polls.
- “Make votes public” means that everybody will be able to see how everybody else voted. This is handy when you want to make a poll like “Who wants me to send them $100”? You don’t just find out _how many_ people said “yes,” you get to see their names so you can send them the $100 (just assume I voted yes on that poll, okay?).
VOTING IN A POLL
It’s really quite straightforward. View the thread, and you’ll see the poll at the top. Click on your choice (or choices, if “allow multiple choice” is turned on), and then click on “vote now.”
If this is a public poll, the words “Be advised that this is a public poll: other users can see the choice(s) you selected.” will appear above the poll options.
You may only vote one time. The SDMB will remember how you voted, and won’t give you a chance to do it again.
READING THE RESULTS
When you vote, you’ll automatically be taken to a results screen, which has the responses displayed above the OP. You can also click the “View Results” button to see the responses without voting yourself.
If you’re looking at a public poll, the number of votes received by each answer will be a link. Click on the link, and you’ll get a list of which members voted for which answer.
---
### Author:  [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/2 "2009-09-22T18:03:38Z")
Not letting me vote.
“Voters: 0. You may not vote on this poll”
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### Author:  [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/3 "2009-09-22T18:05:28Z")
> [@Lobsang](#):
>
> Not letting me vote.
>
> “Voters: 0. You may not vote on this poll”
Ditto, except it is telling me there are 2 voters and I may not vote on this poll.
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### Author:  [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/4 "2009-09-22T18:09:42Z")
Voters: 3. You may not vote on this poll
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### Author:  [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/5 "2009-09-22T18:16:02Z")
I’m going to do a poll dance.
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/6 "2009-09-22T18:17:04Z")
I’m going to gloat about my ability to vote in polls where others cannot.
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### Author:  [@Rin\_Twisted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rin_Twisted)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/7 "2009-09-22T18:17:56Z")
I hit a choice- nothing changed. I tried again, and was told I had already voted in the poll. I hit, ‘see poll results’ and sure enough, I was there.
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### Author:  [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/8 "2009-09-22T18:19:32Z")
Worked fine enough for me.
I think Mr. **Wombat** should have put an option “Bitch and Moan”. 😛
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### Author:  [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/9 "2009-09-22T18:21:06Z")
Working now!
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### Author:  [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/10 "2009-09-22T18:23:03Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#):
>
> I’m going to gloat about my ability to vote in polls where others cannot.
I have acquired the ability to vote. Fear me and [this pear](http://bulk.destructoid.com/ul/90092-/500000006930_lrg-noscale.jpg)!
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/11 "2009-09-22T18:24:06Z")
> [@Lobsang](#):
>
> I have aquired the ability to vote. Fear me and despair!
Curses, foiled again!
Edit: Ah hah, caught you before your edit - I laugh… well, I would laugh at your l’esprit d’escalier attempt at inserting wit, but I do that all the time.
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### Author:  [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/12 "2009-09-22T18:31:56Z")
I’ll make a poll when I’m good and ready.
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### Author:  [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/13 "2009-09-22T18:36:27Z")
Voters 27 - You have already voted on this poll.
Looks like the snarky comment is in the lead. Not a surprise.
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### Author:  [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/14 "2009-09-22T18:37:52Z")
> [@Yllaria](#):
>
> Voters 27 - You have already voted on this poll.
>
> Looks like the snarky comment is in the lead. Not a surprise.
I was tempted to vote that way, but I think I’m out-growing SDMB childi…
… THAT DOG HAS A FLUFFY TAIL!!!
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### Author:  [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/15 "2009-09-22T18:40:31Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#):
>
> Curses, foiled again!
>
> Edit: Ah hah, caught you before your edit - I laugh… well, I would laugh at your l’esprit d’escalier attempt at inserting wit, but I do that all the time.
You can’t out-wit me with fancy words!
> **[L'esprit de l'escalier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27esprit_de_l%27escalier)**
>
> L'esprit de l'escalier or l'esprit d'escalier (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}UK: /lɛˌspriː d(ə l)ɛˈskæljeɪ/, US: /lɛˌspriː d(ə ˌl)ɛskəˈljeɪ/, French: \[lɛspʁi d(ə l)ɛskalje\]; lit. 'staircase wit') is a French term used in English for the predicament of thinking of the perfect reply too late.
> This name for the phenomenon comes from ...
☹
(I’m doing that all the time too. Or more to to be more precise I think of a ‘cool’ way of dealing with a situation while I’m walking away from it, too late)
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### Author:  [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/16 "2009-09-22T19:10:34Z")
It worked! And if you click on the number, you can see who voted for what. Cool.
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### Author:  [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/17 "2009-09-22T19:13:18Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#):
>
> It worked! And if you click on the number, you can see who voted for what. Cool.
How embarrassing. Now everyone can see who voted for the stupid answers :dubious:
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### Author:  [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/18 "2009-09-22T19:14:35Z")
I think it’ll keep people somewhat honest when it comes to more serious polls.
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### Author:  [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/19 "2009-09-22T19:19:12Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#):
>
> It worked! And if you click on the number, you can see who voted for what. Cool.
Remember (as I described in the instructions) that whoever creates the poll can turn that feature on or off.
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### Author:  [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/20 "2009-09-22T19:26:50Z")
Thank you for enabling polling.
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