Legal Definitions - diribitores

Diribitores refers to a specific type of official in ancient Roman law. These individuals were responsible for distributing voting ballots to citizens participating in a comitia, which was a type of Roman assembly where citizens gathered to vote on laws, elect magistrates, or decide on other public matters. Essentially, they were the officers tasked with ensuring that eligible voters received their voting materials in an orderly fashion.

• Example 1: A Citizen Arriving to Vote
  Imagine a Roman citizen named Lucius arriving at the Campus Martius for an important election. As he enters the designated voting area, he approaches a roped-off section. Here, a diribitor stands ready. The diribitor verifies Lucius's eligibility and hands him a small wooden tablet, which serves as his ballot, along with a stylus. Lucius then proceeds to a voting booth to mark his choice.
  This example illustrates the diribitor's primary role: the direct distribution of voting materials (ballots) to individual citizens as they presented themselves to vote.

• Example 2: Managing a Large Assembly
  During a particularly contentious election for a consul, thousands of Roman citizens converged on the assembly grounds. To prevent chaos and ensure every eligible voter received their ballot, numerous diribitores were strategically positioned across the voting area. Each diribitor managed a specific queue or section, efficiently handing out ballots to citizens one by one, ensuring an orderly flow and preventing any single person from receiving multiple ballots.
  This example highlights the logistical importance of diribitores in managing large-scale voting events, ensuring order and fair access to ballots for all eligible citizens.

• Example 3: Preventing Irregularities
  Before a crucial vote on a new law, rumors circulated about attempts to manipulate the ballot distribution. To counter this, the presiding magistrate instructed the diribitores to be extra vigilant. Each diribitor meticulously checked the identity of citizens before issuing a ballot, ensuring that only registered voters received one. If a citizen had already voted or was not eligible, the diribitor would politely but firmly refuse to issue a ballot.
  This demonstrates that beyond simple distribution, diribitores played a role in maintaining the integrity of the voting process by verifying eligibility and preventing fraudulent ballot acquisition, underscoring their responsibility as officers of the state.