Adding respondents after your poll is completed widens your sample size and provides more comprehensive insights. This is a better option than re-running the same poll separately because you're guaranteed to get different respondents than the ones you already polled.
Who can add more respondents
You can add more respondents to any completed poll that meets these requirements:
Time limit: You must add respondents within 120 days of poll completion
Maximum capacity: Polls cannot exceed 500 total respondents (if you need more, reach out to our team)
Panel audience: Works with any PickFu panel audience
You can extend any poll, including 5-person mini-polls. This allows you to build on your initial results without starting from scratch.
How to add more respondents
To add responses to your completed poll:
Navigate to your poll results page
Click the Increase sample size button near the top right of your results page
Select the number of additional respondents you want from the dropdown menu
Review the pricing based on your plan tier
Click Complete Order to process the addition
How adding respondents affects ranked polls
If you're running a ranked poll, adding more respondents won't bias your results. Here's how it works:
Instant runoff methodology
Ranked polls use an instant runoff voting (IRV) system to determine winners. When you add respondents:
No options are permanently eliminated: All your original options remain in play
Complete recalculation: The system recalculates rankings using the combined responses from both your original and new respondents
All options ranked: The instant runoff method evaluates all options across all rounds to find the true winner
Fair representation: Adding more people doesn't create bias—it gives you a fuller picture with more voices weighing in on all your choices
In ranked polls, respondents rank all options in order of preference. If no option receives over 50% of votes in the first round, the system eliminates the lowest-voted option and redistributes those votes based on respondents' next preferences. This continues until one option achieves a majority.
Understanding knockout analysis
Some users worry that options "knocked out" in early rounds won't be fairly evaluated when new respondents are added. This isn't how instant runoff works:
When you add respondents, all options are re-evaluated from scratch
The new respondents rank all available options, not just the ones that "survived" previous rounds
The system combines all responses (original + new) and runs the instant runoff process fresh
Options that were eliminated in the smaller sample may perform differently with more data
Getting different results with a larger sample is normal and expected. More voices can reveal different patterns or reinforce certain trends that weren't as clear with fewer responses. This is a feature, not a bug—you're getting closer to understanding true audience preferences.
What happens after you add respondents
After you complete your order:
New respondents will begin answering your poll
You're guaranteed to get different people—no respondent will answer the same poll twice
Your results page will update in real-time as new responses come in
For ranked polls, scores and rankings will recalculate automatically based on the combined data
Most polls complete within 24 hours, with many finishing the same day
You can only extend a PickFu poll within 120 days of completion. After that window closes, you'll no longer have the option to add more respondents.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add more respondents after my poll is completed?
Yes! As long as your poll is within 120 days of completion, you can add more respondents to any completed poll, including mini-polls.
Will I get duplicate respondents if I add more people?
No. When you use the "Increase sample size" feature, you're guaranteed to get different respondents than the ones who already answered your poll. The system ensures no respondent answers the same poll twice.
Why did my results change dramatically after adding respondents?
This is completely normal, especially for ranked polls. A larger sample size often reveals patterns that weren't visible in a smaller group. For ranked polls using instant runoff voting, the system recalculates all rankings from scratch with the full dataset, which can shift winners as more voices are added. This gives you a more accurate picture of true audience preferences.
What's the maximum number of respondents I can have in a single poll?
The maximum is 500 total respondents per poll. If you need more than 500 responses, reach out to our team to discuss your needs.
How much does it cost to add more respondents?
Pricing is based on your plan tier and follows the same structure as your original poll. The dropdown menu shows exact pricing when you click "Increase sample size." Learn more about how poll costs are calculated.
Can I add respondents to a poll that's still running?
No. The poll must be fully completed before you can add more respondents. If you want to increase your sample size while a poll is running, you'll need to stop it early and start a new poll, or wait for it to complete.
What if the "Increase sample size" button is disabled?
Check these common issues:
Poll still running: The poll must be fully completed first
Maximum reached: Polls cannot exceed 500 total respondents
Time expired: The poll must be within 120 days of completion
How long will it take for my new respondents to complete the poll?
Most polls complete within 24 hours, with many finishing the same day. You'll start receiving responses within minutes of placing your order. The exact completion time depends on your sample size and audience targeting—more specific demographics take longer.
Troubleshooting
I can't find the "Increase sample size" button
The button appears near the top right of your poll results page, next to other action buttons like "Duplicate" and "Stop poll early." If you don't see it, make sure:
You have edit access to the poll
The poll is fully completed (not still running)
The poll is within 120 days of completion
The poll hasn't already reached the 500 respondent maximum
My extended poll stopped receiving responses
This can happen if your audience targeting is very specific. Consider:
Checking if you've reached your maximum respondent count
Reviewing your audience targeting settings for overly narrow criteria
Waiting 24 hours—some targeted polls take longer to complete
If the issue persists, review why polls stop early
What's next
After adding respondents and reviewing your updated results:
Filter your results by demographic traits to see how different segments responded
Ask follow-up questions to respondents for deeper insights
Learn how scores are calculated in ranked and head-to-head polls
Get tips on choosing the right sample size for your research goals
Learn more about PickFu respondents and panel quality
Review the complete post-results workflow for more actions you can take