canvass

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
canvass/ˈkanvəs/

▶verb

• 1 solicit votes from (electors).

  ■ question (someone) in order to ascertain their opinion on something.

• 2 Brit. propose (an idea or plan) for discussion.

▶noun an act of canvassing.

– derivatives
canvasser noun.

– origin C16 (in the sense ‘toss in a canvas sheet’): from canvas.