WordNet
straw vote
n. an unofficial vote taken to determine opinion on some issue [syn: straw poll]
Usage examples of "straw vote".
A straw vote indicates the Senate will vote to convict with considerably more than the necessary two-thirds majority.
We think there's going to be a row over this at the council meeting, and I wanted to take a little straw vote, find out where we'd stand.
More than a litmus test, the Fifth District race was crucial to the passage of the Chavez Ravine bond issue: a Council straw vote showed that body currently standing 5 to 4 in favor, with all other Republican and Democratic candidates vying for Council seats also voicing their approval of the measure.