straw vote

noun

: an unofficial vote taken (as at a chance gathering) to indicate the relative strength of opposing candidates or issues

called also straw poll

Examples of straw vote in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The council will hold a straw vote on May 25, where a majority of council members can advance changes to be included in the final version. Charlotte Observer, 5 May 2026 This comes two weeks after the board advanced the plan through a straw vote. Dennis Valera, CBS News, 4 Dec. 2025 While a final list of cuts the council proposed was made public last week ahead of a straw vote, the process of reaching consensus played out privately. Katie Shepherd, Washington Post, 25 May 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of straw vote was in 1866

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Cite this Entry

“Straw vote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straw%20vote. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

straw vote

noun
: an unofficial vote

called also straw poll

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