> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.autocampaign.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Polls
> Ask your audience a question over SMS and auto-segment them by their answers.
## Overview
A poll sends an SMS question with numbered options. Contacts reply with a number
(or the option's text) to vote. You can turn the responders to any option into a
[segment](/contacts/segments) (a saved group of contacts) for follow-up. Find
polls under **Polls** in the sidebar (`/polls`).
**Time to complete:** \~10 minutes · **Difficulty:** Beginner · Votes are accepted while a poll is **Active**.
## Create a poll
Select one or more phone numbers to send from.
Write the **Poll Question**. You can use
[merge tags](/getting-started/glossary#merge-tag) such as `{{first_name}}` to
fill in each contact's details. Autocampaign AI appends the numbered option list
automatically. Add **2–10 options** (each up to 60 characters, drag to reorder).
Optionally turn on **Allow multiple options** so a contact can pick several.
Choose the **segment** to poll.
**Send Now** or **Schedule for Later** (with timezone). Optionally set
**Auto-close** — the poll closes automatically at the chosen time (default: 7
days after launch).
Click **Launch Poll**.
## How contacts vote
Contacts simply **reply to the poll SMS**:
* With a **number** — `2` votes for the second option.
* With the **option text** — replying "blue" matches the option labeled "Blue".
Capitals don't matter. For multiple-choice polls, replies like `1, 3` or
"yes and maybe" record several votes; each option in a separate reply also works.
For single-choice polls, only the first matched option counts and a second vote is
rejected.
Only **known contacts** can vote, and votes are matched to the most recent poll
they received (within a 14-day window) while it's **Active**.
## Act on the answers
The built-in way to act on responses is to create a segment from the voters of an
option:
On the poll detail page, go to **Votes**.
Click **Create Segment from "\
You can then target that segment with a follow-up [campaign](/campaigns/overview).
Automatically tagging contacts by their answer isn't available in the poll
builder yet. Use **Create Segment from "\
## Understand poll statuses
**Scheduled** → **Broadcasting** → **Active** → **Closed** / **Expired**, plus
**Cancelled**. Votes are only counted while a poll is **Active**. You can **Close**
a poll early (no more votes), **Cancel** before/while sending, or **Delete** a
finished poll.
## Read the results
The poll's **Overview** and **Analytics** show:
* **Total votes** and **unique voters**.
* **Vote distribution** — a chart with each option's share.
* **Response rate** and **response rate over time**.
* A per-option breakdown, and a **Votes** table (voter, option, time) you can filter
by option.
## FAQ
They reply to the poll text with the option number or the option text. No app or
link needed.
On single-choice polls, a second vote is rejected. On multiple-choice polls,
additional distinct options are added; the same option twice counts once.
A CSV (spreadsheet) export isn't available today. Use the analytics views and
create segments from responders.
When the poll is Closed, Expired (auto-close), or Cancelled — or if a reply
arrives more than 14 days after the poll was sent.
## Troubleshooting
The sender must be a known contact, the poll must still be **Active**, and the
reply must start with a valid option number or match an option's text.
Check the poll status — it may have auto-closed (Expired) or been Closed.
Follow up with responders.