Election Timeline of Events

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Election

An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the executive and judiciary, and for regional and local government...

Timeline of Events

1856

2.7.1856

The colonial Tasmanian Parliament passes the second piece of legislation (the Electoral Act of 1856) anywhere in the world providing for elections by way of a secret ballot.

1899

2.14.1899

Voting machines are approved by the U.S. Congress for use in federal elections.

1913

4.8.1913

The 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution, requiring direct election of Senators, becomes law.

1993

6.6.1993

Mongolia holds its first direct presidential elections.

2001

7.24.2001

Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, the last Tsar of Bulgaria when he was a child, is sworn in as Prime Minister of Bulgaria, becoming the first monarch in history to regain political power through democratic election to a different office.

2005

1.9.2005

Elections are held to replace Yasser Arafat as head of the Palestine Liberation Organization. He is succeeded by Rawhi Fattouh.