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Where does the word "ballot" come from? It comes from Italian palla, passing through Italian before entering English (1540s).
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Where does the word "ballot" come from? It comes from Italian palla, passing through Italian before entering English (1540s).
Ballot’s story begins in Italian: palla meant “ball.” A ball. Within Italian, it grew into ballotta by 1500s. 'little ball': Venice's councils voted by dropping small balls into urns, especially when electing the Doge. It reached English by 1540s as ballot. Britain's Ballot Act of 1872 introduced the secret ballot. Today, ballot means a process of voting in writing and in secret.
- Stage 1 · Italian · medieval palla "ball", a ball.
- Stage 2 · Italian · 1500s ballotta "voting ball", 'little ball': Venice's councils voted by dropping small balls into urns, especially when electing the Doge.
- Stage 3 · English · 1540s ballot "vote", Britain's Ballot Act of 1872 introduced the secret ballot.