straw poll

noun

1. an unofficial poll or vote taken to determine the opinion of a group or the public on some issue

straw poll

1. Originally, a small, informal opinion survey. Today, a straw poll is generally a large-scale, scientifically determined public opinion survey based on a random sample of the population. Straw polls are commonly used to test public opinion of candidates running for office.

Example Sentences

An official straw poll of conference attendees only underlined what by then was obvious.

From BBC

A straw poll among neutrals at half-time at Wembley would have come down firmly on the side of a Real victory, even though they had been abysmal.

From BBC

Attendees at the annual gathering of right-wing activists, lobbyists and businesses - dominated in recent years by the Trump faithful - cast ballots in a straw poll for who should share the Republican ticket in November.

From BBC

The conservative gathering’s straw poll is hardly predictive, but it can show which way political winds are gusting on the far right.

From New York Times

“They’ll all get a chance to make remarks and give conservative activists a sense of what they’re about. And I’m sure Mr. Trump will be very interested to see the results of the straw poll.”

From New York Times