Tabellariae Leges
Laws by which, for the purpose of weakening the power of the Optimates, the practice of
voting by secret ballot was introduced at Rome. There were four of these laws:
1.
the Lex Gabinia (B.C. 139), prescribing the use of the ballot in
the election of magistrates;
2.
the Lex Cassia (B.C. 137), prescribing the ballot in the
iudicium populi except in cases of treason (
perduellio);
3.
the Lex Papiria (B.C. 131), introducing the ballot in voting on
the enactment and repeal of laws; and
4.
the Lex Caelia (B.C. 107), extending the use of the ballot to
questions even of
perduellio. All these laws are mentioned by Cicero
(
De Leg. iii. 16, 35). See
Comitia.