Polls
The polls module lets moderators create interactive polls that viewers can vote on through chat commands or a web interface. Results update in real time and are available for one hour after the poll ends.
This is a built-in module that ships with Owlbot and is enabled by default.
Quick Start
Start a poll:
!poll
Owlbot sends you a private link to a poll creation form. Fill in the question, options, duration, and settings, then submit. Owlbot announces the poll in chat:
Poll: "What game should we play next?"
1. Minecraft
2. Terraria
3. Stardew Valley
Type a number in chat or use !vote to vote. Voting ends in 4 minutes.
Vote by typing a number in chat or visiting the voting page:
3
!vote
When the timer expires (or you type !endpoll), the winner is announced and a results link is shared.
Commands
| Command | Aliases | Usage | Permission | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
!poll |
!poll |
Moderator | Start the poll creation process. Sends a private link to the creation form. | |
!vote |
!vote [number] |
Everyone | Vote in the active poll. With a number, votes directly (single-select only). Without arguments, sends a voting page link. | |
!endpoll |
!endpoll |
Moderator | End the active poll early and announce results. | |
!cancelpoll |
!cancelpoll |
Moderator | Cancel the active poll without saving results. |
Creating a Poll
Type !poll to receive a private message with a protected link to the poll creation form. The connection link expires after 5 minutes if not opened. The form has the following fields:
- Question - the poll question (required)
- Options - between 2 and 10 answer options
- Duration - how long the poll runs in seconds (default: 240, between 30 and 600 seconds)
- Hide results until end - when enabled, voters cannot see vote counts during the poll. You can always see live results as a moderator.
- Require authentication - when enabled, only users logged into Owncast can vote
- Allow multiple selections - when enabled, voters can select more than one option. Optionally set a minimum and maximum number of selections.
Once submitted, the poll is announced in chat with numbered options.
Voting
In Chat
For single-select polls, you can vote by typing a bare number in chat (e.g. 3) or by using !vote <number>. Both methods hide the message from chat to keep votes private and prevent spam. Owlbot sends a private confirmation with a link to view live results.
For multi-select polls, bare number voting and !vote <number> are not available. Type !vote to get a link to the voting page instead.
On the Web
!vote (with no argument) sends a private protected link to the voting page. The page shows:
- The question and options with radio buttons (single-select) or checkboxes (multi-select)
- A countdown timer synced with the server
- Live vote counts and percentages (unless the poll is hidden)
- Moderators always see live results regardless of the hidden setting
You can only vote once. Votes cannot be changed after submission.
Ending a Poll
A poll ends in one of three ways:
- Timer expires - the poll automatically ends after its configured duration
!endpoll- end the poll early from chat- End Poll button - click "End Poll" on the voting page
When a poll ends, the winner is announced in chat and a results link is shared. All connected voting pages redirect to the results page.
Cancelling a Poll
!cancelpoll or the "Cancel Poll" button on the voting page discards the poll without saving results or announcing a winner. A cancellation message is posted to chat.
Notifications
60-Second Reminder
For polls longer than 60 seconds, Owlbot sends a reminder to chat when 60 seconds remain. The reminder repeats the question and voting instructions.
User Join Notification
When you join chat while a poll is active, you receive a private message with the poll question, options, and a protected link to vote. If you have already voted, the link takes you back to the live results.
Stream Grace Period
If the stream goes offline during an active poll, the poll continues for a 5-minute grace period. If the stream does not come back online within that window, the active poll is automatically cancelled. If the stream restarts before the grace period expires, the poll continues normally.
Results
The most recently completed poll is accessible at /owlbot/polls/results for one hour after it ends. The results page shows:
- The question
- Each option with its vote count, percentage, and a visual bar
- Winner or tie badges
Options are sorted by vote count (highest first). Ties are indicated when two or more options share the highest vote count.
Examples
# Start the poll creation flow (moderator only)
!poll
# Vote by typing a bare number in chat (single-select only)
3
# Vote using the command (single-select only)
!vote 2
# Get a link to the voting page (works for all polls)
!vote
# End the poll early and announce results (moderator only)
!endpoll
# Cancel the poll without saving results (moderator only)
!cancelpoll
Built-in Modules
Creating New Modules