| 词源 |
ballot. In days past, people voted by dropping little balls, or ballots, (from the Italian ballotta) into a box or other receptacle. In this ancient method of voting, still used in some clubs today, a white ball signified an affirmative vote and a black ball a nega- tive one. By the 19th century paper was being widely used in place of these balls, but the new form retained the old name. |