Legal Definitions - poll

Definition: Poll is a term commonly used in the context of elections. It can refer to the process of voting, the place where voting takes place, or the result of the voting. Before elections, organizations may conduct polls to survey public opinion and predict the outcome. In legal contexts, poll is also used in the context of juries in criminal cases. After a verdict is reached, a poll may be conducted to ensure that the jury reached a unanimous decision without coercion. Other legal phrases that use the term "poll" include "poll taxes" and "straw polls."

• During the election, many news outlets conduct polls to predict the outcome.
• After the jury reached a verdict, the judge conducted a poll to ensure that all jurors agreed with the decision.
• Historically, some states imposed poll taxes on their residents, requiring them to pay a fixed tax to vote.
• A straw poll is a nonbinding vote used to gauge public opinion on a particular issue or candidate.

These examples illustrate how the term "poll" is used in different contexts, including elections and legal proceedings. Polls can be used to predict outcomes or ensure fair decision-making, while "poll taxes" and "straw polls" are examples of historical and informal uses of the term.