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

A quick straw poll among the team here in our office also suggested this is the case - with most school parent groups having only a handful of male members.

From BBC

Trump was excluded from a straw poll of 2028 candidates at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference.

From Los Angeles Times

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