STRAW POLL

A 'straw poll' or straw vote is a vote the results of which are not binding: a practice vote. They have little effect, other than very roughly to gauge opinion. In meetings, impromptu straw polls often are taken to see if there is enough support for an idea to devote more meeting time to it, and (when not a secret ballot) for the attendees to see who is on which side of a question.
The idiom alludes to a straw (thin plant stalk) held up to see in what direction the wind blows, in this case the wind of group opinion.
Straw polls are used in the selection process of the U.N. Secretary General before the actual (effective) vote.

Contents

United States politics

References

United States politics

A more formal kind of straw poll is commonly used in American political caucuses. Such straw polls can be taken before selecting delegates and voting on resolutions. The results of straw polls might influence delegates in caucus and in later political conventions.
Well-known straw polls include the Ames Straw Poll and the Texas Straw Poll. The Ames, Iowa, Republican Straw Poll is generally regarded as the most meaningful straw poll during the presidential campaign because of the large voter turnout, relatively high media recognition, and Iowa's tradition of being the first state to vote in caucuses before the primaries.
In the former, in 2007, one had to buy a $35 ticket to vote. In the latter, one had to have been a former delegate or alternate delegate. Both are completely run by private organizations, immune to public oversight. All such factors make straw polls completely unscientific, that is, unlikely to accurately measure group opinion. They are used, nevertheless, as tests of organizational strength and financial support.

References

1. http://ronpaulupdate.blogspot.com/2007/08/iowa-straw-poll-romney-wins-huckabee.html

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