After you click "start a battle" when you make a new thread remember to:

1) KEEP the poll timeout set to the default option "0 days".

2) KEEP the "Allow multiple choice" UNCHECKED. If you check the box then the battle system will not recognize your battle poll.

I have seen people complaining that their poll closed early...that's because they set the poll timeout to 2 days or 3 days (DON'T MESS WITH THIS OPTION)