Scheduling Poll is a new Outlook add-in that is replacing the Find Time app it is enabled for all SVSU users of Outlook on the web. The Scheduling Poll allows you to poll attendees for the best meeting times for a meeting or event. Scheduling Poll is handy for scheduling meetings with multiple attendees outside of SVSU. Once everyone has responded, the owner of the meeting can view the results of the poll and when consensus is reached a meeting is automatically generated with the meeting details and individual(s) Outlook calendar is blocked.
Scheduling poll will have similar features as the FindTime add-in with new features rolling out in 2023. **Note: The Find Time app will no longer be supported by Microsoft after July 2023.
Overview
Scheduling poll app is an Outlook add-in (formerly named Scheduling Poll) used for scheduling meetings with attendees of calendars you do not have access to inside or outside of the organization.
Article Sections
What is the Scheduling Poll?
Scheduling Poll is available in the Outlook desktop app and Outlook on the web (recommended). Scheduling Poll sends proposed times to attendees that they can vote on days and times, when it reaches a consensus everyone invited gets their calendar is blocked. Auto-scheduling is turned by default on a meeting invitation is sent to all attendees, and their calendars are blocked for the specified time that was voted on, saving you time. No more going back and forth between email or trying to find meeting times that work for everyone.
Invited attendees outside of SVSU can vote on meeting polls; non-SVSU users do not need an Microsoft 365 account.
Create Your Scheduling Poll Poll
1. Create a new calendar event in Outlook.
2. Type in an event title and add attendees as normal.
3. Click the Scheduling Poll icon (it might be listed under the ellipses in Outlook on the web).
Select the Proposed Meeting Times
1. The Scheduling Poll pane opens (right-side of the screen)
2. From the Duration drop-down menu, select the duration of your meeting, the default is 30 minutes.
3. Select the day and start times of your proposed meeting. Starting times can overlap so keep that in mind when proposing start times. You can choose multiple dates if desired. Click Next to manage the poll settings
View Availability of Attendees
Hover over the times, if you hover over the person it will show you who is available may be busy, is busy or availability is unknown indicated by different colors.
Poll Settings
Turn on or turn off Teams meeting
Manage your Poll Settings
You can manage your poll before creating your email. Simply hover over the option and click the link to turn it on or off.
As the organizer it is important to keep the preferred times up to date and track your polls on the Scheduling Poll Dashboard. You can manage, edit, cancel, or delete your polls and change the default poll settings.
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Notify me about poll updates
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On
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You will receive notifications as each person completes the poll.
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Schedule when attendees reach consensus
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On
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Scheduling Poll will automatically send the appointment to all attendees
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Hold selected times on my calendar
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On
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Tentative blocks are placed on your calendar, so you are not double booked. The Attendees' calendars are not blocked until they vote. All holds on your calendar are removed when the poll is scheduled or canceled.
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Lock poll for attendees
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Off
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Attendees cannot propose different times.
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| Email notifications in Scheduling Poll Language |
Off |
Notifications are sent in English unless turned on. |
| Require attendees to verify their identity |
On |
Turning on prevents anonymous voting. |
When you've set up the poll click Add to email, a new window opens (not an appointment). You can add more meeting details, as desired.
Attendees calendar are not reserved (blocked), you may want to include wording that lets them know to vote on the poll as soon as they can. Once they vote their calendars are blocked.
When you are done adding to your email, click Send. This is not a meeting appointment, it is a regular email.
What Do Invited Attendees See?
The invited attendee needs to select the link with the number of options. They will be able to choose from the provided dates and times. Select from Yes, No, and Prefer. The Prefer option will have a heart icon, when finished they click Vote.
Attendees will be able to see how others voted.
Remember there is no appointment slot reserved on their calendar so it's important that recipients respond as soon as possible. Once an invited attendee votes their calendar is blocked for the proposed times as tentative.
You are invited to a meeting
Proposed Meeting Times
Voted Meeting Times
What Do I See as the Organizer?
The organizer gets email updates if they enabled it when they sent out the meeting Poll with the Scheduling Poll app. Below you will see examples of what you'd see when your poll has been voted on, and the dates and times chosen. The heart icon means preferred. When your poll has reached an agreement between all attendees.
Attendee Vote Poll 1
Attendee Vote Poll 2
Poll Reached Conscensus
Finalize the Meeting
Scheduling Poll automatically sends a calendar appointment to all attendees once a consensus has been reached if automatic scheduling is enabled, and emails you the Organizer so that you can add other meeting details as needed such as an agenda or attachments, or a Teams meeting if you didn't enable it before you created the meeting poll. All previous holds are removed from your calendar. Open your calendar to edit your meeting.
Teams Meeting Scheduled
Manage Your Polls on the Scheduling Poll Dashboard
Track and manage your polls from https://outlook.office365.com/findtime/dashboard
The Scheduling Poll dashboard is only viewable by you the Organizer. Learn how to use the Scheduling Poll Dashboard.
How do I Start a Scheduling Poll Meeting in Outlook?
Outlook desktop app
Start a new email as normal, which is the Message tab > New Meeting Poll
Outlook web
Scheduling Poll may need to be added to your message interface or your Calendar interface.
To add Scheduling Poll to your Calendar. Click the gear icon (upper-right of screen) then in the search box type in calendar, click calendar surface to open it. Click the Scheduling Poll checkbox then Save.
To add Scheduling Poll to a message in your Inbox. Click the gear icon (upper-right) then in the search box type in quick, select Quick actions to open it. In Customize actions sections "Message surface" and "Toolbar", click the Scheduling Poll checkbox then Save.
Scheduling Poll: Microsoft Resources