Was holding up the poll boxes (7)

I believe the answer is:

wallops

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'boxes' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'was holding up the poll' is the wordplay.
'holding' is an insertion indicator.
'up' is an anagram indicator (letters get chucked up).
'poll' with letters rearranged gives 'llop'.
'was' placed around 'llop' is 'WALLOPS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for wallops that I've seen is " socks".)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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