# The Polling feature is enabled. Here's how to use it **URL:** \ **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:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![EpicNonsense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@EpicNonsense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EpicNonsense)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/41 "2009-11-22T15:31:54Z")
Glad you folks added this feature. It’s really useful when you want better results as a lot of people prefer to be anonymous in certain polls. Keeps things a little more organized as well. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/42 "2010-11-27T02:13:35Z")
I have noticed that a lot of OPs include a line at the end like, “Poll coming soon” as though the OP gets posted without the poll until the poll is added. That’s not really how it works, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/43 "2010-11-27T02:21:50Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I have noticed that a lot of OPs include a line at the end like, “Poll coming soon” as though the OP gets posted without the poll until the poll is added. > > That’s not really how it works, is it? The new thread shows when you create it and the poll doesn’t until you add it. People can open the new thread before the poll is in the thread. The time between the two depends on how long it takes you to enter the question and all the choices. It’s nothing that really needs a notice the the poll will follow. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/50 "2015-09-15T13:52:01Z")
> [@](#): > > 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. Pet peeve of mine. Quit putting an "I just want to see the results " option people!! ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Mills](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@Mister\_Mills](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Mills)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/51 "2015-10-24T14:25:06Z")
That would be my vote, if it were still open to casting one. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/52 "2016-09-27T09:19:55Z")
This does not work. Please give new instructions. > [@Gary\_Robson](#): > > 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:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/55 "2017-09-21T15:25:51Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > I’m going to do a poll dance. And I shall charge a poll tax. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/57 "2018-02-06T22:36:23Z")
I had an email notification for this thread. Was the guy a spammer? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/58 "2018-05-22T04:50:23Z")
I’ve just posted my first poll. Note: although it may not be clear from the content of posts 22 and 24, you need to include the word “Poll:” in the thread title (if you want it there). Finalizing the creation of the poll does NOT populate the thread title field with the word. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/59 "2018-05-22T14:08:14Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I’ve just posted my first poll. > > Note: although it may not be clear from the content of posts 22 and 24, you need to include the word “Poll:” in the thread title (if you want it there). Finalizing the creation of the poll does NOT populate the thread title field with the word. This is not true. As you can see from the title of your own poll thread, it now says “Poll: [Poll]” because you added “[Poll]” unnecessarily. Creating a poll automatically adds “Poll:” to the title. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/60 "2018-05-22T14:13:15Z")
Well, NOW I do… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/61 "2018-05-22T15:18:08Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > This is not true. As you can see from the title of your own poll thread, it now says “Poll: [Poll]” because you added “[Poll]” unnecessarily. Creating a poll automatically adds “Poll:” to the title. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Well, NOW I do… > > :smack: One kink is that the Poll tag (and the poll itself) doesn’t show up in Tapatalk. It’s useful to see Poll in the title so I know to switch to a browser if I want to read the Poll and/or vote. So while it is redundant using a browser, there are some advantages to adding it to the title. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/65 "2020-06-22T18:25:22Z")
I think this pinned thread may have to be revised. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2020, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/66 "2020-06-22T19:00:59Z")
Are we getting polls? Do we have them? ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/67 "2020-06-22T19:06:58Z")
The little gear shaped icon above the edit window lets you build a poll. It is not just an option in the original post. Will polls be enabled? _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/67))_ How we manage that is maybe something to look at since it is now a poll free for all. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/68 "2020-06-23T18:43:24Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I think this pinned thread may have to be revised. 🙂 I’m on it, **Leaper**. Check back in a day or so. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2020, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/69 "2020-07-05T23:57:44Z")
Until we’re able to get the original post edited, here are the updated instructions for polls on the new board: * * * **RULES** No rule changes here - I’m just updating the instructions so they work with the new (June 2020) board software. You are free to use polls anywhere you like in IMHO, just as before. A poll is a now a feature built into a regular post. They’re not restricted just to the OP anymore. There is no need to post to the thread in order to vote, although you can still discuss the results using normal posts. **CREATING A POLL** To create a poll, start a new topic (thread) or a reply in an existing topic. Along the top of your edit area, you’ll see a toolbar that includes bold, italic, and so forth. At the far right of the toolbar is a gear icon. Click on that, and you’ll get a drop-down menu that includes the option “Build Poll.” Unlike the old board, your poll can be inserted anywhere in the post, so you can have text both above and below it. Check where your cursor is when you start the poll builder. When you select **Build Poll** , you’ll see options for **Single Choice** (which produces radio buttons), **Number Rating** (just numbers), and **Multiple Choice** (checkboxes). The next option is when you can see results: - Always Visible: Everyone viewing the thread will see a “Show results” button - On Vote: The button doesn’t appear until you’ve voted - When Closed: The button doesn’t appear until the poll is closed We’d prefer it if you leave “Allowed Groups” blank. We’re a pretty inclusive bunch here, so let’s not restrict voting unnecessarily. At the bottom of the poll builder, you’ll see a checkbox for “Automatically close poll.” If you check that, you can set a date and time when voting will no longer be allowed. If you don’t check it, voting will be allowed forever, and your poll will be immortal, just like Cecil. Above the closing option, you’ll see a checkbox for “Show who voted.” If that is checked, you get what our old board software called a “public poll,” meaning everyone will be able to see who voted how. If it isn’t checked, voting is anonymous. **SINGLE CHOICE AND MULTIPLE CHOICE POLLS** There is an option for **Chart Type** that you can set to either **Bar** or [insert in-joke here] **Pie**. This sets how the results will be displayed. If you set it to **Pie** , the option to show who voted will disappear. You can only see who voted if you’re using a bar chart. There’s a box labeled “Enter one poll option per line.” Hopefully, I don’t have to explain that one. If you’re making a multiple choice poll, you’ll be able to enter min and max values. If you’re doing a poll like “Which fruits do you like” with 20 different fruits, you’d set min to 1 and max to 20 and people could pick as many as they please. If you’re doing “Pick your three favorite hummingbird species,” you’d set min and max both to 3 to force everyone to pick exactly three. _(continued in Part 2 because of post length limit)_ ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2020, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/70 "2020-07-05T23:58:18Z")
_(part 2)_ **NUMBER RATING POLLS** A number rating poll would be something like “Rate the movie Casablanca.” You can set the min, max, and step to show what numbers appear. - Min=1, Max=5, Step=1 would give options 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. - Min=3, Max=12, Step=2 would give options 3, 5, 7, 9, 11. You get the idea. I’m sure some of you curious technophiles will want to go deeper. Visit [Create a poll that others can vote on - users - Discourse Meta](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-create-polls/77548) for instructions on hand-coding polls. You break it, you buy it! **VOTING IN A POLL AND READING THE RESULTS** It’s really quite straightforward: When you see a poll, there will be some options. Pick one (or more, if allowed). If there’s a **Show Results** button you can see all of the results. Again, you don’t have to post to the thread (err … topic) to vote. You can only vote once, of course, but you can go back and change your vote if you like. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109/72 "2020-12-02T12:26:29Z")
Closed on December 2, 2020, 12:26pm UTC [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polling-feature-is-enabled-heres-how-to-use-it/511109.md?page=2)