What Is a Straw Poll? Informal Voting for Board Decision-Making

A straw poll is an informal, non-binding vote used by a board to gauge how directors feel about an issue before committing to a formal resolution. It surfaces disagreements early and helps the chair judge whether the board is ready to decide.

Board directors use straw polls to read the room. They are a quick, low-stakes way to check alignment on contentious or complex agenda items without triggering the procedural weight of a formal vote.

Polling has a long history in democratic governance. The first known straw poll in the United States was conducted during the 1824 presidential election by the Harrisburg Pennsylvanian, and the practice spread steadily through the 19th century.

Not-for-profit boards sometimes use straw polls to counterbalance hierarchic structures. Even a simple show of hands gives junior staff and newer directors a voice they might not otherwise use, and it makes transparency part of how the board operates rather than something bolted on later.

What is a straw poll?

Straw polling is an informal method for counting votes, normally used to find out how group members are feeling about a certain issue or potential candidate in line for a Board or senior leadership position. Straw polling aims to quickly get information about what people are thinking.

Historically, the term straw poll was used to describe a non-binding vote taken in smaller organisations or groups to predict the results of a looming official vote. In the past, this might have involved asking for a show of hands. The idiom probably originated from the idea of holding up a piece of straw to see which way the wind is blowing.

Today, not-for-profit Boards use two types of straw polls. The first is a single straw poll used to get a snapshot of opinions at a specific moment in time. The second is multiple straw polls used in a series of discussions about an important or complicated agenda item.

How are straw polls used?

NFP leaders use straw polls across a range of situations: planning, elections, collaborations, conflict resolution, and spotting training gaps.

Some organisations poll externally too — testing how the public understands a service or brand before committing to a direction. A nonprofit might poll its staff and community members together to surface misalignments between what the organisation offers and what people actually need.

Within the boardroom, straw polls work well on collaborative or contentious items. Because they are informal and anonymous, directors who would hesitate to speak up in open debate are more likely to share an honest view. That candour often shifts the conversation in useful ways.

In Australian and New Zealand not-for-profit boards, straw polls are particularly useful before Annual General Meetings or when boards are considering changes to their constitution or rules of association. The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) does not prescribe voting procedures at board level, so organisations are free to use informal polling however they see fit.

Straw polls can also flag knowledge gaps. If responses to a governance question split along predictable lines, it may point to directors who need more background material before the formal vote. And when staff, clients, or other stakeholders are included in a poll, they are more likely to support whatever the board decides — people back decisions they had a hand in shaping.

When not to use straw polls

If you’re under a tight deadline, it’s not the right time to use a straw poll. It is better to use it early in the process. A straw poll is a good option when you want to find out about preliminary opinions or encourage open dialogue about a complicated issue or problem.

When dealing with a contentious issue where Board members have widely differing views and understandings or perspectives, a straw poll can help your Board find common ground. Other scenarios where straw polling may not be the right choice are when routine or administrative tasks are already settled and don’t need to be discussed. Confidential matters or sensitive information should not be polled due to the risk of a privacy breach or misunderstanding. Similarly, a board that is legally required to pass a special resolution under the Corporations Act 2001 should not substitute a straw poll for the formal vote required by legislation.

How to conduct straw polls

1. Set the ground rules. The Chair explains that the poll is informal and non-binding. Share voting guidelines with the board beforehand so everyone knows the format.
2. Frame the question. Write a brief description of the issue and provide a small number of clear answer options — nothing elaborate.
3. Keep responses anonymous. Do not reveal who said what after results come in. Directors are far less likely to give an honest answer if they think their response will be attributed to them, especially when their view runs against the majority.
4. Collect and tally. Use a tool like SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, or the Our Cat Herder decision-maker tool to gather and analyse responses.
5. Report the result without attributing views. Share the aggregate result with the board and use it to guide — not replace — the formal vote.

Related Terms

Governance

Quorum

Board Portal

Further Resources

Unleashing the Power of Effective Communication in your Boardroom

Improving Governance and Transparency

A Comprehensive Guide to Achieving a Quorum