# How to make a poll in Discord with a bot

> Run polls in Discord with a /poll command and button votes, one vote per member and every vote saved. A free Discord poll bot template, no code.

Source: https://buildcord.dev/guides/discord-poll-bot/
Updated: 2026-11-05
Publisher: Buildcord (https://buildcord.dev)

Discord has a poll option built into the message box. A poll bot is for when you want more: a /poll command anyone you choose can run, votes kept as data you can read later, and a poll that looks and behaves your way. The polls template posts the question with a button for each option and counts one vote per member. It runs on a slash command and buttons, so it is free.

## Steps

1. **Start from the polls template.** Open the polls template in Buildcord. It makes a bot with the `/poll` command, the vote buttons and a collection for the votes.
2. **Connect and deploy.** Paste your Discord application's token, add the bot to your server with its invite link and deploy.
3. **Ask a question.** Run `/poll` with a question and its options. The bot posts the poll with one button per option.
4. **Vote.** Press a button from a test account. Each member gets one vote per poll.
5. **Make it yours.** Change the poll's look on the **Embeds** page, or keep `/poll` to a role with a **Role** check after the command.

## Good to know

- Every vote is a row in a collection, so you can read the results on the bot's Data page after the poll is over.
- Closing a poll on its own after a set time needs a schedule, which is on Buildcord Boost, the $8-a-month plan. On the Free plan a moderator closes it.
- For ideas members post themselves, with votes and a verdict, the [suggestions template](https://buildcord.dev/templates/suggestions/) fits better.

## Questions

### Why use a bot instead of Discord's own polls?

Discord's polls are quick and need nothing set up. A bot poll can be started by command, limited to certain roles, styled your way, and keeps each vote as data you can read or count later.

### Can someone vote twice?

No. The bot records one vote per member per poll.

### Is it free?

Yes. It runs on a slash command and buttons, which the Free plan hosts around the clock.

## Build it

Start from the [Polls template](https://buildcord.dev/templates/polls/), with every flow already drawn. Use the polls template: https://buildcord.dev/templates/polls/