Poll - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition poll

Definition :

Poll, to give a vote at an election; also to receive a vote; also a taking of votes of all persons entitled to vote present, by proxy, or otherwise, as opposed to counting the votes of voters present at a meeting.

As to taking a poll at parliamentary and municipal elections by secret voting, see the Ballot Act, 1872.

Wherever a person has to be chosen, or a thing may be ordered to be done by the majority of persons entitled to vote, there is a Common Law right to demand a poll, so that all entitled to vote may have a second opportunity of voting, Reg. v. Wimbledon Local Board, (1881) 8 QBD 459, better reported, 46 LT 47. Voting papers are allowed if the Articles of Association or other regulations so provide, McMillan v. Le Roi Mining Co. Ltd., (1906) 1 Ch 331, and s. 116, Companies Act, 1929. As to the power of the chairman to direct a poll to be taken forthwith, i.e., at the meeting, see Re Chillington Iron Co., (1885) 29 Ch D 159; Re British Flax Co., (1889) 60 LT 215. The taking of a poll is not a 'meeting', Shaw v. Tati Concessions, (1913) 1 Ch 292.