Article polls and the weekly question

Polls has two principal uses: a reader question attached to an article and a standalone poll such as a weekly front-page question.

Article poll

Enable the poll after saving the draft. Provide a question, clear answer choices and optional expiry. It is disabled by default, making activation a deliberate editorial choice.

AI support can suggest a question and answers from the saved article. Editors must check for leading wording, false assumptions and overlapping choices.

Standalone poll

A standalone poll is its own content type with publishing status, kicker, featured treatment and shortcode. It can occupy a fixed widget area and be replaced without editing an article.

For a weekly question, assign responsibility, closing time and approval. Do not rewrite a live question in a way that changes the meaning of existing votes.

Interpreting results

An open web poll is not representative research. Describe results as responses from participants in that poll and avoid claims about the wider population. Close questions made obsolete by a changed news situation.

Checklist

• Is the question understandable without hidden context?
• Do choices cover reasonable answers without steering readers?
• Is a neutral or other option necessary?
• Are closing time and responsible editor defined?
• Is the subject suitable for a simplified poll?