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
The County Commission is scheduled to hold straw votes on the budget May 29 and adopt a final budget for the new fiscal year June 3.
—
Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2025
The council is scheduled to hold straw votes on the budget in a week and approve a final budget June 10.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 24 May 2024
The commission plans to hold straw votes on the budget on May 30 and adopt a final budget June 4.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 16 May 2024
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
With local Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) and some residents lobbying hard against a name change, the committee decided in a 12-5 straw vote vote last month that there wasn’t a compelling enough reason to recommend that the district be renamed.
—Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2022
The unofficial, closed-door, straw vote was 4 to 3, which meant that Beutner’s selection hinged on the vote of Ref Rodriguez, who was facing charges on campaign-finance violations and managed to stay in office just long enough to provide a swing vote.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2021
Subsequently, voting was downgraded to a straw vote and the resolution will formally be voted on by an electronic vote at a later date.
—Krzysztof Bolejko, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2018
On July 14, city councilors on the Public Facilities and Programs and Services committees voted unanimously in a straw vote to move forward with a new building, Fuller said.
—BostonGlobe.com, 21 July 2021
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.
Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2025
The council is scheduled to hold straw votes on the budget in a week and approve a final budget June 10.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 24 May 2024
The commission plans to hold straw votes on the budget on May 30 and adopt a final budget June 4.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 16 May 2024
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
With local Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) and some residents lobbying hard against a name change, the committee decided in a 12-5 straw vote vote last month that there wasn’t a compelling enough reason to recommend that the district be renamed.
—Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2022
The unofficial, closed-door, straw vote was 4 to 3, which meant that Beutner’s selection hinged on the vote of Ref Rodriguez, who was facing charges on campaign-finance violations and managed to stay in office just long enough to provide a swing vote.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2021
Subsequently, voting was downgraded to a straw vote and the resolution will formally be voted on by an electronic vote at a later date.
—Krzysztof Bolejko, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2018
On July 14, city councilors on the Public Facilities and Programs and Services committees voted unanimously in a straw vote to move forward with a new building, Fuller said.
—BostonGlobe.com, 21 July 2021
Cite this Entry
“Straw vote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straw%20vote. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share