Results visibility settings
Decide when voters may see poll results in PHPPoll: always, after voting, after the poll closes, or private for admins only. Compare the options for your use case.
Showing results can boost participation, but it can also influence votes. PHPPoll lets you choose per poll. The setting is in Voting rules → Who can see the results.
Choose the right mode
| Mode | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Always visible | Curious visitors engage more; a "View results" link is offered. | Early results can influence later voters. |
| After voting | Rewards participation; results are not seen without voting. | Visitors who only want to peek must vote. |
| After the poll closes | Fair and unbiased; creates a "reveal" moment. | No instant feedback for voters. |
| Only me (admin) | Full privacy for surveys and feedback. | Visitors never see the outcome. |
Closed and ended polls
When a poll is closed, ended or full, the mode After voting shows the results to every visitor, because voting is no longer possible. The mode After the poll closes does the same. Only me keeps the results private forever.
The admin always sees everything
No matter which mode you choose, the Results page in the admin shows all numbers and charts. See The results page.
What visitors are told
For hidden results the poll shows a clear note, for example "Results are shown after you vote" or "The results of this poll are private". You can translate these texts. See Translate PHPPoll into your language.
Publishing the results elsewhere
Keep the results private in the poll, then publish a screenshot or the exported data in your article. See Export poll votes to CSV.
Related: Poll results for visitors.
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