Set up Comments for Voting

Instructions

Example scenario:

We will continue using the list: Lunch Voting

Sample items already created:

Users vote on their preferred catering option, and after voting, they can leave comments stored in a new comments list.

Step 1: Create the Comments List

1. Open your SharePoint site
2. Create New List
3. Choose type: Discussion Board
4. Name it: Lunch Voting Comments

This list type already includes a thread-style experience suitable for comment conversations.

Step 2: Configure Lookup column

1. Open List Settings or Design
2. Create Connected Lookup column in Lunch Voting Comments list
3. Name – Vote Item
4. Source list → Lunch Voting
5. Display Column → Item ID (or Title if list is small)

Each comment item will reference 1 voted lunch option using Lookup.

Step 3: Connect the Comments List to Voting

On-Prem settings

1. Go back to your Lunch Voting list
2. List Settings → Voting column
3. Comments list →  Lunch Voting Comments (the list you just created)
4. Lookup column →  Vote item
5. Save

Online settings (Microsoft 365)

1. Open the Lunch Voting list
2. Click → Design
3. Go to: Columns → Voting column → Edit
4. Comments list →  Lunch Voting Comments (the list you just created)
5. Lookup column →  Vote item
6. Save

Step 4: Test voting → comments

1. Open the Lunch Voting
2. Click the vote button next to any item.
3. After clicking Vote, a comment input window pops up for the voter to share feedback.
4. Type a short comment
5. Click Submit
6. The comment is stored in your list: Lunch Voting Comments
7. Go to the Lunch Voting Comments list.
8. You should see a new Discussion item imported and referencing the voted item: