Polls are a great way to do anything in Slack from quickly getting feedback about an idea to deciding where to go for lunch. Setting up a Slack poll is quick and easy and we show you how to do it.

What to Know

  • Type a question in the message field. Press Shift+Enter to go to next line. Choose Block quote icon. Use a different emoji for each option.When you send the message to the group, participants can respond with the corresponding emoji to produce results.Adding each of the corresponding emojis yourself makes it easier for responders, as they only need to click the one they agree with.

How to Create a Simple Poll in Slack Using Emoji

One way to do a poll is to install a poll app from the Slack App Directory like Simple Poll, Polly, or Poll Champ. However, your Slack administrators may not have given you permission to install them. If that’s the case, there’s a simple workaround; no installations are necessary. You can create a poll using emojis. Here’s how.

  • Type your question into the message line.
  • Lifewire/Adam Doud
  • Press Shift+Enter if you’re on a Windows PC or Shift+Return if you’re on a Mac to go to a new line (without sending the message.)
  • On mobile, the Enter button skips to the next line (no shift required) and the Send button sends the message when you’re ready.
  • Click the Block quote icon.
  • Lifewire/Adam Doud
  • Create the options for your poll. Each option should begin with an emoji which you can access by clicking the Emoji button on the right side of the toolbar.
  • Enter each response, pressing Shift+Enter/Return to move to the next line without sending the message.
  • Once your poll is ready to go, press Enter/Return to send your poll to the group. Users will respond to the poll using the emoji you listed in your choices, and those emoji counts will be easy to track.

That’s all you need to do to set up your poll using emojis. There is one last set of steps we recommend adding on if you want to make it easier for people to vote.

Type your question into the message line.

Press Shift+Enter if you’re on a Windows PC or Shift+Return if you’re on a Mac to go to a new line (without sending the message.)

On mobile, the Enter button skips to the next line (no shift required) and the Send button sends the message when you’re ready.

Click the Block quote icon.

Create the options for your poll. Each option should begin with an emoji which you can access by clicking the Emoji button on the right side of the toolbar.

Enter each response, pressing Shift+Enter/Return to move to the next line without sending the message.

Once your poll is ready to go, press Enter/Return to send your poll to the group. Users will respond to the poll using the emoji you listed in your choices, and those emoji counts will be easy to track.

How to Add Reactions for Easy Voting

Users who want to respond to your poll could go search out the emoji you listed in your poll, but you run the risk of them choosing something completely different if you leave it up to them. Instead, you can add reactions to your poll so voters only need to click the icon that’s already there.

  • Point your mouse at your poll, and click Add reaction in the right corner.
  • Lifewire/Adam Doud
  • Add the first emoji from your poll.
  • When you do that, the Add Reaction button will be duplicated next to the first emoji. Click that and add the second and third emojis.
  • Lifewire/Adam Doud

Adding Slack Emoji Reactions on a Mobile Device

On mobile, the process is a bit different.

If you add reactions to your emoji poll, remember to reduce the reaction counts by one when you’re tallying votes to account for the one reaction that you placed for each emoji.

Point your mouse at your poll, and click Add reaction in the right corner.

Add the first emoji from your poll.

When you do that, the Add Reaction button will be duplicated next to the first emoji. Click that and add the second and third emojis.

  • Tap the message once to open it in its own window.
  • Tap Add Reaction.
  • Select the emoji for your first response.
  • Repeat the process for each other emoji.
  • Once you’re done, click the arrow in the upper left corner to exit the message.

Adding the emojis makes it possible for others to “vote” by clicking on the emojis themselves, rather than having to find the emojis in their own list. This kind of poll will give you almost immediate feedback on whatever question you have.

Tap the message once to open it in its own window.

Tap Add Reaction.

Select the emoji for your first response.

Repeat the process for each other emoji.

Once you’re done, click the arrow in the upper left corner to exit the message.

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