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Ranked-choice polls

Ranked-choice polls, right inside Gmail

A ranked-choice poll asks people to put options in order of preference instead of picking just one. In Polls for Gmail, you insert one from the add-on in the compose window or the Chrome extension's robot next to Send. Recipients drag the options into order, with no sign-in or install, and ranks become points. The option with the most points is your group's favorite.

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A
Alex Park
to team

Quick one, tap your answer below:

Poll
Drag these offsite cities into your preferred order
Open the poll to rank these in your preferred order.
Lisbon
Porto
Seville
Kraków
Rank your choices
Made with Polls for Gmail
95%

In New York City's first ranked-choice election (the 2021 primaries), 95% of voters surveyed in an Edison Research exit poll said their ranked ballot was simple to complete.

Ranking feels easy to people, so you can ask for a full preference order without making your poll a chore.

Source: Edison Research exit poll for Common Cause/NY and Rank the Vote NYC, 2021
Who uses it

Who sends ranked choice polls

Real questions people send every week.

Managers and teamsRank the features we should build next quarter (Exports, Templates, Themes, Integrations)Turns a crowded roadmap debate into one shared priority order the team helped shape.
Teachers and schoolsRank the class field trip options (Science museum, Aquarium, Zoo, Planetarium)Every student's preferences count, so the pick feels fair even to those whose first choice lost.
Event organizersRank the keynote shortlist for our spring conference (Dr. Rao, M. Lindqvist, J. Okafor, S. Chen)Surfaces the speaker most attendees like, not the one with a small loyal fanbase.
Families and friendsRank where we should go for the family reunion (Lake house, Beach rental, Mountain cabin, Grandma's)Finds the place everyone can live with when several options sound good.
Use cases

When a ranked choice poll works best

Six common situations, each with a question you can borrow.

Picking an offsite locationRank Lisbon, Porto, Seville and Kraków so the team lands on the city most people actually like.
Prioritizing a roadmapAsk stakeholders to order four feature ideas and build the top-scoring one first.
Choosing a nameLet your club rank five name ideas for the new league team or newsletter.
Shortlisting speakers or vendorsHave the committee rank three caterers or keynote candidates before you sign anything.
Breaking a tieA single-choice vote ended 41 to 41? Re-send the two finalists as a ranked poll.
Planning a group tripFriends rank four destinations so the winner reflects everyone's second choices too.
How to

How to send a ranked choice poll in Gmail

About two minutes, start to finish.

1
Open the poll creatorIn Gmail compose, open the Polls for Gmail add-on (web or mobile app), or click the robot next to Send if you use the Chrome extension.
2
Choose Ranked choicePick Ranked choice as the poll type and write your question. Saying "drag into your order" helps voters know what to do.
3
Add your optionsList the options to rank. Four to six works best. Up to 10 options on Free and Standard, 20 on Pro.
4
Send and watch the pointsInsert the poll and send your email. Ranks convert to points and the order updates live in your dashboard as ballots arrive.

Using the Chrome extension? Click the robot next to Send in any draft. It’s the same poll, just faster.

Best practices

Tips for better answers

Keep it to four to six optionsThat's enough to be interesting and short enough that people rank thoughtfully. With long lists, the bottom half gets rushed.
Give a one-line instructionPut "drag into your preferred order" in the question so every recipient knows exactly what you're asking.
Add a deadlineSet an optional deadline so ballots close on time and you can announce the winner without chasing stragglers.

Use a different type when…

Single choicethere's a clear frontrunner and you just need one quick pick per person
Multiple choiceyou want people to tick every option they'd be happy with
All poll typesCompare all seven
Free template

10 ready-to-send ranked choice questions

Copy one, paste it into a poll, and send. No sign-up needed.

Question bank
  1. Rank the offsite cities in your preferred order (Lisbon, Porto, Seville, Kraków)
  2. Rank the features we should build next (Exports, Templates, Themes, Integrations)
  3. Rank the field trip options for our class (Science museum, Aquarium, Zoo, Planetarium)
  4. Rank the keynote shortlist for the spring conference (Dr. Rao, M. Lindqvist, J. Okafor)
  5. Rank the team name ideas for this season (Thunder, Comets, Riptide, Falcons, Wolves)
  6. Rank the caterers for the holiday party (Taco truck, Italian buffet, BBQ, Sushi)
  7. Rank where we should go for the family reunion (Lake house, Beach rental, Mountain cabin)
  8. Rank the open-house dates that suit your schedule best (Sat Apr 12, Sun Apr 13, Sat Apr 19)
  9. Rank the training focus for next month (Defense, Conditioning, Set plays, Shooting)
  10. Rank our book club's next read (Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Demon Copperhead, The Covenant of Water, James)
Send one in Gmail, free
FAQ

Ranked choice poll questions, answered

How do I create a ranked-choice poll in Gmail?

Install Polls for Gmail, start a new email, and open the add-on from the compose window, or click the robot next to Send if you use the Chrome extension. Choose Ranked choice, add your options, insert the poll and send. Results appear live in your dashboard.

How is a ranked-choice poll scored?

Each rank converts to points: first place earns the most and last place the fewest. Points are added up across all voters, and the option with the highest total is the group's favorite. Second and third choices still count, which helps avoid a split vote.

Do recipients need Gmail or an account to vote?

No. Recipients can vote from any email client. They open the poll from your email, drag the options into their preferred order and submit once. There's no sign-in and nothing to install.

Is the ranked-choice poll free?

Yes. Every poll type, including ranked choice, is included on the Free plan. Paid plans are Standard at $100 a year and Pro at $150 a year, and Pro adds features like up to 5 questions per poll, vote reminders, templates, exports and 20 options.

How many options can a ranked poll have?

Up to 10 options on the Free and Standard plans, and up to 20 on Pro. For the best results, keep it to four to six so people can rank every option thoughtfully.

Can I see who voted or hide results in a ranked poll?

Yes, both are optional per poll. You can turn on voter identification to collect names or emails, hide results from voters, and set a deadline. Leave them off if you want a quick, simple poll.

Every poll type, free to try

Date & timeYes / NoSingle choiceMultiple choiceStar ratingRanked choiceOpen-ended

Send your first ranked choice poll today.

Recipients vote in one click, right from their inbox.

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