straw poll
Nonbinding opinion sample
A straw poll is an unofficial vote taken to gauge opinion before a formal decision.
The results indicate which way the wind is blowing—like a straw tossed in the air—but carry no binding authority: A straw poll showed most members favored the merger.
Also called a straw vote.
Voting by lifting arms
- temperature checkMeasuring body heat level
- headcountTotal of individuals present
- tallyRecorded count
- canvasHeavy woven cloth
gauge · sample · snapshot · pulse check · litmus test · barometer · preliminary · indicative
Systematic data collection
- electorateEligible voting body
- demographicsStatistical population characteristics
- sentimentFelt attitude or view
- canvassingSystematic direct voter outreach
focus group · sample size · margin of error · respondents · public sentiment · approval rating · swing voters · undecided
Achieving group accord collaboratively
- non-bindingNot legally enforceable
- advisoryNotice recommending action
- test the watersAssess before fully committing
- sound outVocalize phonetically, part by part
show of hands
Voting by lifting arms
- temperature checkMeasuring body heat level
- headcountTotal of individuals present
- tallyRecorded count
canvas · gauge · sample · snapshot · pulse check · litmus test · barometer · preliminary · indicative · ballpark
survey
Systematic data collection
- electorateEligible voting body
- demographicsStatistical population characteristics
- sentimentFelt attitude or view
canvassing · focus group · sample size · margin of error · respondents · public sentiment · approval rating · swing voters · undecided
consensus building
Achieving group accord collaboratively
- non-bindingNot legally enforceable
- advisoryNotice recommending action
- test the watersAssess before fully committing
- votingballot, vote, voters, ballots, voter
- surveyssurvey, surveys, questionnaire, questionnaires, census
- votesvote, ballot, yea, nay, aye
- caucusdelegates, delegate count, precinct, realignment, viability
- pollingsample, sample size, random sample, margin of error, confidence interval
- consensusmajority rule, unanimity, supermajority, plurality, ballot
straw pollbinding vote
Vote requiring compliance
general election · final vote · plebiscite · referendum · primary election
straw pollrepresentative sample
Subset mirroring larger group
controlled study · census · exit poll · opinion poll · Gallup poll
poll, straw, polls, polling, straws, polled, pollster, pollsters, opinion poll