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

Save the article with enough content before preparing the poll. Draft the question, two or more clear answer choices and, where needed, an expiry period. Preview the completed poll in its article context before saving it. It is disabled by default, so activation remains a separate, deliberate editorial choice after review.

AI support can suggest a question and answers from the saved article. Treat the output as an editable proposal, not as publication-ready copy. Editors must validate it against the article, then check for leading wording, false assumptions, missing context and overlapping choices before saving or activating it.

Set an expiry deliberately. Where an article does not define one, the site-wide default applies. Do not leave a time-sensitive question active after the reporting has moved on.

Standalone poll

A standalone poll is its own content type with publishing status, kicker, featured treatment and insertion control. 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?
• Has the draft been previewed in its article or placement before explicit activation?
• Are closing time and responsible editor defined?
• Is the subject suitable for a simplified poll?