Summary
How to use a scheduling poll in Outlook to offer several possible meeting times and let invitees vote. Includes the requirement that attendees be added before the poll option becomes available, and when a poll is a better choice than the Scheduler.
Body
📊 Create a Scheduling Poll
Let attendees vote on a time instead of guessing which one suits everyone.
✅ Before You Begin
- You need an active NEO A&M College account with SSO access
- An internet connection is required
- The people you want to poll — a poll cannot be started until at least one attendee is added
- 🕐 Estimated time: 5 minutes
💻 Which Outlook do these steps describe?
Written for
Outlook on the web and
New Outlook for Windows, which share the same layout.
Classic Outlook for Windows is laid out differently. If your ribbon has a
Send / Receive tab, you are using classic — see
Classic Outlook vs. New Outlook, or contact the Help Desk if these steps do not match what you see.
💭 When to Use a Poll 🕐 Reference | No action needed
A poll and the Scheduler solve different problems.
- Use the Scheduler when everyone is inside NEO and their calendars are accurate — you can read a free slot straight off the grid.
- Use a scheduling poll when calendars will not tell you the answer: attendees outside the college, people whose calendars are not shared, or a time that depends on preference rather than availability.
💡 Tip: Offer three or four options, not ten. A long list of times makes the poll harder to answer than the email it replaced.
📊 Start the Poll 🕐 ~4 minutes | Any browser
- Select New event and give the meeting a title.
- Add your attendees to Invite required attendees first.
- Select the Scheduling poll button in the toolbar along the top of the form.
- Choose the times you want to offer, then send the poll.
⚠️ Note: The Scheduling poll button does nothing until there is at least one attendee, and explains why: “Add invitees to enable scheduling polls.” If the button seems dead, that is the reason — add someone first.
💡 Tip: Attendees vote from the invitation itself, and Outlook can book the winning time for you once everyone has answered.
📞 Still Need Help?
If you encounter any issues not covered in this guide, please contact the NEO A&M College IT Help Desk:
🌐 Helpdesk Portal: support.neo.edu
📞 Phone: (918) 540-6099
📧 Email: neosupport@neo.edu
📍 Walk-in: I.T. Services, Library/Administration Building, 2nd Floor, Room 216
🕐 Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM