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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web 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 The council’s 11-3 informal straw vote to cut police overtime came late Wednesday during a budget briefing that began in the morning and wrapped at 1:30 a.m. the following day. Kevin Krause, Dallas News, 4 Sep. 2020 The previous version of the amendment, which passed by an 11-3 straw vote earlier this month, proposed to spend the savings from overtime cuts on streetlights, bike lanes, affordable housing, solar panels, arts and culture programs, and other areas. Kevin Krause, Dallas News, 23 Sep. 2020 But when the council took a straw vote, not a single member voted for his amendment. Kevin Krause, Dallas News, 3 Sep. 2020 The Howard County Board of Education took three straw votes Monday night to move a total of 5,320 students for the 2020-21 academic year. Jess Nocera, baltimoresun.com, 19 Nov. 2019 Over and over Coronado residents voiced their opposition in straw votes. San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2019 The council voted against the idea 6to3 earlier in the budget process, and had a 5-to-4 straw vote last week in favor of continuing several storm water projects that were in mid-design but had been halted. Jennifer Barrios, Washington Post, 22 May 2018 Acceding to legal advice, the Broward County Charter Review Commission has moved from putting an assault weapons ban on the ballot in November to putting a straw vote on the question on the ballot. Dan Sweeney, Sun-Sentinel.com, 19 Mar. 2018 See More
BostonGlobe.com, 21 July 2021 The council’s 11-3 informal straw vote to cut police overtime came late Wednesday during a budget briefing that began in the morning and wrapped at 1:30 a.m. the following day. Kevin Krause, Dallas News, 4 Sep. 2020 The previous version of the amendment, which passed by an 11-3 straw vote earlier this month, proposed to spend the savings from overtime cuts on streetlights, bike lanes, affordable housing, solar panels, arts and culture programs, and other areas. Kevin Krause, Dallas News, 23 Sep. 2020 But when the council took a straw vote, not a single member voted for his amendment. Kevin Krause, Dallas News, 3 Sep. 2020 The Howard County Board of Education took three straw votes Monday night to move a total of 5,320 students for the 2020-21 academic year. Jess Nocera, baltimoresun.com, 19 Nov. 2019 Over and over Coronado residents voiced their opposition in straw votes. San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2019 The council voted against the idea 6to3 earlier in the budget process, and had a 5-to-4 straw vote last week in favor of continuing several storm water projects that were in mid-design but had been halted. Jennifer Barrios, Washington Post, 22 May 2018 Acceding to legal advice, the Broward County Charter Review Commission has moved from putting an assault weapons ban on the ballot in November to putting a straw vote on the question on the ballot. Dan Sweeney, Sun-Sentinel.com, 19 Mar. 2018 See More Word History
First Known Use
1866, in the meaning defined above