Ancient Greek citizens voted by placing a black or white stone in a jar
History
Democratic pioneers in ancient Athens used a simple yet effective system of colored pebbles to cast their ballots, ensuring that every citizen's voice was counted in the city's decision-making process.
The foundations of modern democracy were built using small stones called psephoi. In ancient Athenian courts and assemblies, citizens cast their votes by dropping a white stone for 'yes' or a black stone for 'no' into bronze or wooden urns. This tactile method provided a clear, visual way to tally results and maintain the integrity of the vote.