A poll note is a [nostr event](01.md) (kind `6969`) for conducting paid polls. A poll presents two or more voting options, which participants my vote on by sending regular [zap events](57.md) which include an additional `poll_option` vote tag. Poll results may be blinded, until after users have voted. Polls may specify a `closed_at` time, after which results should be unblinded, closed to new votes, and the tally considered final. Poll options may be tallied by either satoshi `value` or vote `count`. Polls may additionally specify a `value_minimum` to include votes in the tally and a `consensus_threshold` for assessing the state of consensus.
The purpose of poll notes is to conduct quantitative public opinion polls over nostr by requiring voters pay to participate. By tying vote amounts and counts to real satoshi valuations, nostr polls intend to provide superior signal compared to other free polling models. Imposing real monetary costs on participants should also discourage attempts at fraudulent result manipulation, by automated or other means.
Distinct `value` and `count``tally_method`s are defined to enable two different polling types. Polls tallied by total zapped `value` allow for weighting of votes by their associated satoshi valuations, while polls tallyied by `count` force an equal weighting of all votes, regardless of their satoshi amounts (provided they meet the `value_minimum`, when specified).
Both `tally_method` types have their own strengths and weaknesses: `value` polls may encourage larger bidding-style submissions and are resilient against a single entity submitting repeated low-value votes, however, they also allow for a single 'whale' voter to discount many smaller 'shrimp' voters; while `count` polls may encourage increased voter participation, by enforcing an equal weighting of all votes, but are more susceptible to repeated voter count manipulations.
A careful balancing of all poll attributes should enable pollers to design and conduct polls with meaningful and valuable outcomes.
Poll options are voted on by sending [zap events](57.md) (to the original poll event) which include 1 additional `poll_option` tag in the zap request event.
Strict adherence to these requirements should enable a standardized means of quantitatively assessing the distribution of opinion regarding a poll's content amongst poll participants, determining a winning outcome, and possibly achieving consensus. However, until this protocol is further tested, refined, and proven robust, polls should probably not be considered authoritative nor binding.
