Polls

A poll asks one question with 2 to 10 options. It’s built in, so it needs no app. Anyone in the conversation can vote, and you can see the results as votes come in or when the poll ends.

Create a poll#

In the composer of a channel, DM or group DM, open the + menu and choose Poll. Or type /poll and your question, such as /poll Lunch on Friday?, and send: the poll opens with that question filled in.
Write the Question (up to 150 characters).
Write the Options, up to 80 characters each. Select Add option for more (up to 10), × to remove one, and drag the handle to reorder. On a computer, Alt+Up and Alt+Down move an option too.
Choose the settings below, then select Create poll. On a computer, Ctrl+Enter (Windows) or Cmd+Enter (Mac) creates it.

The poll opens as a bottom sheet on phones and a dialog on computers. Create poll stays off until every field is valid, and problems show as you type, such as This option is already in the list.

The settings#

Allow multiple answers: voters can pick several options.
Hide who voted for what: an anonymous poll. People see only the counts, once 3 people have answered or the poll closes. buildIt.social still keeps who voted, so that each person votes once. Anonymous polls need a channel, or a direct message with at least 4 people.
Hide results until the poll ends or everyone has voted: nobody sees the counts until then.
Guests can vote: on by default.
Closes: No closing time, In 1 hour, End of today, End of tomorrow, In a week, or Pick a date and time….

Polls are made in a conversation’s own composer, not in threads or the chat during a call. Guests can’t create polls.

Note: You can create a poll offline. It’s sent when you’re back online, like a message. “In 1 hour” and “In a week” count from when it’s sent. If a closing time you picked passes before then, the poll isn’t sent and says why.

Vote#

A poll says under its question whether you Choose one or Choose any, and whether names are shown.
When results show as votes come in, the poll shows its bars from the start. For one answer, select a bar to vote. For several, tick your answers and select Vote.
When results are hidden until the end, pick your answer and select Vote.
Your choice is marked Your vote. To change it, select Change answer, as long as the poll is open.

You can vote offline: the poll shows Will send when you’re back online and Your vote, not sent yet. If the poll closes before your vote arrives, you see This poll closed before your vote arrived.

An open poll you haven’t voted in shows in a banner at the top of the conversation, Poll: and its question, with Vote.

Results#

Each option shows a bar with its count and percentage, and the poll shows how many votes it has.
When names are shown, select Show who voted to see who chose each option.
On an anonymous poll, Who voted for what is hidden.
With results hidden, the poll says Results show when the poll closes or everyone has voted.

Close or delete a poll#

The person who made a poll can close it:

Right-click the poll on a computer, or press and hold it on a phone.
Choose Close poll, then Close poll again to confirm.

Nobody can vote once it’s closed, and it can’t be opened again. Closing needs a connection. A poll with a closing time closes on its own.

You can delete a poll like any message; that closes it too. A poll can’t be edited.