diff --git a/src/app/api/polls/route.ts b/src/app/api/polls/route.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c5ec48a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/api/polls/route.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';
+import { query } from '@/lib/db/pool';
+
+export async function GET(request: Request) {
+  try {
+    const { searchParams } = new URL(request.url);
+    const courseId = searchParams.get('course_id');
+
+    let polls;
+    if (courseId) {
+      const result = await query(
+        'SELECT * FROM polls WHERE course_id = $1 ORDER BY created_at DESC',
+        [courseId],
+      );
+      polls = result.rows;
+    } else {
+      const result = await query('SELECT * FROM polls ORDER BY created_at DESC LIMIT 100');
+      polls = result.rows;
+    }
+
+    return NextResponse.json({ data: polls });
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Failed to fetch polls:', error);
+    return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Failed to fetch polls' }, { status: 500 });
+  }
+}
+
+export async function POST(request: Request) {
+  try {
+    const body = await request.json();
+    const { id, question, options, course_id, created_by } = body;
+
+    // Create table if it doesn't exist
+    await query(
+      'CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS polls (' +
+        'id VARCHAR(255) PRIMARY KEY, ' +
+        'question TEXT NOT NULL, ' +
+        'options JSONB NOT NULL, ' +
+        'course_id VARCHAR(255), ' +
+        'created_by VARCHAR(255), ' +
+        'created_at TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP' +
+        ')',
+    );
+
+    const result = await query(
+      'INSERT INTO polls (id, question, options, course_id, created_by) ' +
+        'VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5) ' +
+        'RETURNING *',
+      [
+        id || crypto.randomUUID(),
+        question,
+        JSON.stringify(options || []),
+        course_id || null,
+        created_by || 'anonymous',
+      ],
+    );
+
+    return NextResponse.json({ data: result.rows[0] }, { status: 201 });
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Failed to create poll:', error);
+    return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Failed to create poll' }, { status: 500 });
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/components/CommandPalette.tsx b/src/components/CommandPalette.tsx
index 7bf93d12..ae51bbe8 100644
--- a/src/components/CommandPalette.tsx
+++ b/src/components/CommandPalette.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { PollCreationModal, type PollDraft } from '@/components/polls/PollCreati
 import { useSettingsStore } from '@/lib/settings/store';
 import { useToast } from '@/context/ToastContext';
 import { useTheme } from '@/lib/theme-provider';
+import { wsManager } from '@/lib/websocketManager';
 import {
   type ShortcutActionId,
   type ShortcutCommand,
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ export function CommandPalette() {
   const [query, setQuery] = useState('');
   const { theme, setTheme } = useTheme();
   const [pollModalOpen, setPollModalOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [isSubmittingPoll, setIsSubmittingPoll] = useState(false);
 
   const settings = useSettingsStore((s) => s.settings);
   const { info: toastInfo } = useToast();
@@ -148,12 +150,6 @@ export function CommandPalette() {
           setPollModalOpen(true);
         },
       },
-      {
-        id: 'openShortcutHelp',
-        title: 'Show keyboard shortcuts',
-        description: 'Open shortcuts help and customization panel',
-        run: () => setShowHelp(true),
-      },
     ];
   }, [setTheme, theme, settings.pollCreationEnabled, toastInfo]);
 
@@ -318,10 +314,37 @@ export function CommandPalette() {
       <PollCreationModal
         isOpen={pollModalOpen}
         onClose={() => setPollModalOpen(false)}
-        onCreate={(draft: PollDraft) => {
-          // TODO: integrate with poll creation backend/GraphQL.
-          // For now, keep placeholder to satisfy typing and modal behavior.
-          console.log('Create poll draft', draft);
+        onCreate={async (draft: PollDraft) => {
+          if (isSubmittingPoll) return;
+          setIsSubmittingPoll(true);
+          try {
+            const options = draft.options.filter(o => o.trim() !== '');
+            const res = await fetch('/api/polls', {
+              method: 'POST',
+              headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+              body: JSON.stringify({ question: draft.question, options }),
+            });
+            if (res.ok) {
+              const { data } = await res.json();
+              const statuses = wsManager.getAllStatuses();
+              const activeKey = Object.keys(statuses).find(key => statuses[key].isConnected);
+              if (activeKey) {
+                 const socket = wsManager.getSocket(activeKey);
+                 if (socket) {
+                   socket.emit('collaboration:message', {
+                     type: 'poll:created',
+                     roomId: 'global',
+                     poll: data
+                   });
+                 }
+              }
+              setPollModalOpen(false);
+            }
+          } catch (err: any) {
+            console.error('Failed to submit poll', err);
+          } finally {
+            setIsSubmittingPoll(false);
+          }
         }}
       />
     </>
diff --git a/src/features/collaboration/server/webSocketServer.ts b/src/features/collaboration/server/webSocketServer.ts
index 3c1e0d90..84eb2336 100644
--- a/src/features/collaboration/server/webSocketServer.ts
+++ b/src/features/collaboration/server/webSocketServer.ts
@@ -83,6 +83,11 @@ export const setupCollaborationWebSocketServer = (httpServer: HttpServer): Socke
         return;
       }
 
+      if (message.type === 'poll:created' || message.type === 'poll:vote') {
+        socket.to(message.roomId).emit('collaboration:message', message);
+        return;
+      }
+
       if (message.type === 'operation') {
         const roomState = getRoomState(message.roomId);
 
diff --git a/src/features/collaboration/types.ts b/src/features/collaboration/types.ts
index ed4a346f..87eedef4 100644
--- a/src/features/collaboration/types.ts
+++ b/src/features/collaboration/types.ts
@@ -66,4 +66,15 @@ export type CollaborationMessage =
       type: 'error';
       roomId: string;
       message: string;
+    }
+  | {
+      type: 'poll:created';
+      roomId: string;
+      poll: any;
+    }
+  | {
+      type: 'poll:vote';
+      roomId: string;
+      pollId: string;
+      optionIndex: number;
     };