Editing Ballot (section)

==History==
In [[ancient Greece]], citizens used [[Ostracon|pieces of broken pottery]] to scratch in the name of the target of the [[ostracism]].

The first use of paper ballots to conduct an election appears to have been in [[Ancient Rome|Rome]] in 139 BC, following the introduction of the [[lex Gabinia tabellaria]].

In ancient [[India]], around 920 AD, in [[Tamil Nadu]], palm leaves were used for village assembly elections. The palm leaves with candidate names were put inside a mud pot for counting. This was called ''Kudavolai'' system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tn.gov.in/policynotes/pdf/rural_development.pdf |title=Panchayat Raj, Policy notes 2011-2012 |publisher=Rural development & panchayat raj department, TN Government, India |access-date=3 November 2011 |archive-date=3 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103174106/http://www.tn.gov.in/policynotes/pdf/rural_development.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Heritage in a park|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/04/02/stories/2010040251170100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408080151/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/04/02/stories/2010040251170100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 April 2010|date=2 April 2010|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Handbook on Kongu archaeological treasures|url=http://www.hindu.com/lf/2005/06/27/stories/2005062701170200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523175847/http://www.hindu.com/lf/2005/06/27/stories/2005062701170200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 May 2013|date=27 June 2005|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Coimbatore, India}}</ref>

The first use of paper ballots in America was in 1629 within the [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]] to select a pastor for the Salem Church.<ref>[http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/ Jones, Douglas W.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921144453/http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/ |date=2011-09-21 }}. [http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/voting/pictures/ A Brief Illustrated History of Voting] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921144601/http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/voting/pictures/ |date=2011-09-21 }}''[http://www.uiowa.edu/ University of Iowa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111029090249/http://www.uiowa.edu/ |date=2011-10-29 }} [http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/ Department of Computer Science] ''.</ref> Paper ballots were pieces of paper marked and supplied by voters.

Before the introduction of the [[secret ballot]], American political parties distributed ballots listing their own candidates for party supporters to deposit in ballot boxes.

<gallery class="center" widths="200">
File:0 - Stoà of Attalus Museum - Ostraka for ostracism - Photo by Giovanni Dall'Orto, Nov 9 2009.jpg|Ancient Greek [[Ostracon|ostraca]], 5th century BC, [[Ancient Agora Museum]] in Athens, housed in the [[Stoa of Attalus]]
File:Athenian Secret Ballot.jpg|Ancient Greek bronze secret ballots used to cast a juror's vote on a case, 3rd century BC, [[Ancient Agora Museum]] in Athens, housed in the [[Stoa of Attalus]]
File:National Union Ticket- Lincoln & Johnson (4360135844).jpg|1864 ballot of the [[National Union Party (United States)]]
</gallery>