Help with long SQL query

[eluser]ChaosKnight[/eluser]
Hi, this query is for a poll system on the site that I remade:

Code:

$sql = "SELECT v.answer_id, COUNT(v.id) AS NumVotes, a.answer FROM poll_votes v, poll_answers a WHERE v.poll_id='".$poll_id."' AND a.id = v.answer_id GROUP BY a.answer ORDER BY NumVotes DESC";

Can someone tell me if it's possible to convert this query in CodeIgniter's ActiveRecord queries? Or will it be better to run that query with the regular query function?:

Code:

$this->db->query($sql);

Thanks