Mastodon Post Polls: How to Set Up to Four Options With Expiry

Mastodon allows you to create polls attached to your posts. A poll lets your followers vote on a question you define, with up to four answer choices. You can also set a time limit after which voting closes automatically. This article explains how to create a Mastodon poll, configure its options, and set an expiry duration.

Polls are useful for gathering quick feedback, making group decisions, or simply engaging your audience. They appear inline in the timeline, and results are hidden until the poll ends unless you choose to show them early. Understanding the exact steps and available settings ensures your polls work as intended.

Below you will find the complete process for adding a poll to a new post, including how to name options and pick an expiry time. We also cover common mistakes and limitations you should avoid.

How Mastodon Polls Work and What You Need Before Creating One

A Mastodon poll is a special component attached to a standard post. When you add a poll, the compose interface expands to show fields for options and expiry settings. The poll appears below your post text in the timeline. Followers can tap or click an option to cast their vote.

Every Mastodon instance supports polls because the feature is part of the core Mastodon codebase. You do not need any special permissions or third-party tools. The only requirement is a Mastodon account on any instance that runs version 2.8 or newer. Most public instances today meet this requirement.

Polls have a few fixed rules:

• You can set a minimum of two options and a maximum of four options.
• Each option can contain up to 50 characters.
• The expiry duration can be 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 6 hours, 1 day, 3 days, or 7 days.
• You can choose whether voters see live results before the poll ends.
• You can allow single choice or multiple choices.

Once you post the poll, you cannot edit the options, the expiry time, or the question. You can only delete the entire post. Plan your options carefully before hitting the publish button.

Steps to Create a Mastodon Post With a Poll and Set Expiry

The following steps work on the Mastodon web interface and most official mobile apps. The exact icon positions may vary slightly between platforms, but the logic is identical.

1. Open the compose box
   Click the compose button or text area at the top of your home timeline. This opens the standard post editor where you normally write a status update.
2. Click the poll icon
   Look for a small icon that resembles a bar chart or a set of vertical bars. It is usually located next to the media attachment button. Clicking it reveals the poll configuration fields below the text area.
3. Enter your question in the post text
   Write the question you want to ask in the main text box. For example: “Which design should we use for the new landing page?” The poll question is separate from the options. Keep it clear and concise.
4. Fill in the option fields
   Two empty fields appear labeled “Choice 1” and “Choice 2.” Type your first answer option into the first field and your second option into the second field. To add a third option, click the “+ Add a choice” link below the fields. For a fourth option, click the link again. Each option accepts up to 50 characters.
5. Set the expiry time
   Below the option fields you see a dropdown labeled “Poll expires in.” Click it and select one of the preset durations: 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 6 hours, 1 day, 3 days, or 7 days. The timer starts counting down the moment you publish the post.
6. Configure single-choice or multiple-choice
   By default, voters can select multiple options. If you want to allow only one vote per person, toggle the switch labeled “Single-choice” to the on position. This is useful for yes-or-no polls or when you need a single winner.
7. Choose whether to show results early
   By default, the vote tally is hidden until the poll expires. If you want followers to see the current count while voting is still open, toggle the switch labeled “Show results before expiry” to on. Be aware that this can influence how people vote.
8. Review and publish
   Check that your question, options, expiry, and voting settings are correct. Click the publish button. The poll appears in the timeline attached to your post. You cannot edit it after publication.

Common Mistakes, Limitations, and Things to Avoid With Mastodon Polls

You Cannot Edit a Poll After Posting

Once you publish a poll, there is no edit function. You cannot change the question, add or remove options, or adjust the expiry time. If you make a mistake, you must delete the entire post and create a new poll. This limitation exists to preserve the integrity of votes already cast.

Option Text Is Limited to 50 Characters Each

Each option field accepts a maximum of 50 characters. If your answer choices are longer, you must shorten them. Consider using abbreviations or splitting a complex choice into a simpler two-part poll.

You Cannot Attach Media to a Post That Contains a Poll

Mastodon does not allow you to add images, videos, or other media attachments to a post that already has a poll. The poll icon and the media icon are mutually exclusive. If you need both a visual and a poll, create a separate post for each purpose.

Polls Do Not Work With Content Warnings Properly

You can add a content warning to a post that contains a poll. However, the poll options are not hidden behind the warning. Only the main post text is hidden. The options and the vote button remain visible in the timeline even when the content warning is collapsed. Avoid using polls for sensitive topics that require full content hiding.

Voters Can Change Their Vote on Multiple-Choice Polls

If you set a poll to allow multiple choices, a voter can toggle their selections on and off before the poll ends. This means the final tally can shift over time. If you want a firm single answer, enable the single-choice toggle.

Expiry Times Are Global and Cannot Be Paused

The expiry timer runs continuously from the moment you publish. There is no way to pause or extend the duration after posting. If you need more time, delete the poll and create a new one with a longer expiry setting.

Mastodon Poll Settings: Web Interface vs Mobile App

Item	Web Interface	Mobile App (Official)
Poll icon location	Bottom-left of compose box, next to media button	Bottom toolbar, icon with three vertical bars
Add choice button	Text link below option fields	Plus icon or “Add choice” link
Expiry dropdown	Dropdown with preset durations	Same dropdown, may be labeled “Duration”
Single-choice toggle	Switch labeled “Single-choice”	Switch labeled “Single choice”
Show results toggle	Switch labeled “Show results before expiry”	Switch labeled “Show results”

Both interfaces support the same functionality. The mobile app may hide advanced options behind a menu or require scrolling. If you cannot find a setting, tap the poll icon again to collapse and expand the configuration panel.

What to Do After Your Mastodon Poll Ends

When the expiry time passes, the poll closes automatically. The post displays the final vote tally and highlights the winning option if you enabled single choice. You can view the results by opening the post in your timeline.

Mastodon does not send a notification when a poll ends. You must check the post manually. If you want to follow up, you can reply to the original post with the results or create a new post summarizing the outcome.

Polls are a lightweight engagement tool. They do not support weighted voting, runoff rounds, or anonymous voting beyond what the instance already hides. For complex decision-making, consider using an external polling service and sharing the link in a regular post.

You can now create Mastodon polls with up to four options and a custom expiry time. Use the poll icon in the compose box to add options, set a duration from 5 minutes to 7 days, and choose single-choice or multiple-choice mode. Remember that you cannot edit a poll after publishing, so double-check your options and expiry before clicking publish. For quick audience feedback or informal votes, Mastodon polls work well without any additional tools.