ABSTRACT
Venetian institutions were complex ones, constantly evolving from the moment they were implemented in the twelfth century until the end of the Republic in 1797. Regular elections were organized to fill these positions, and once elected, patricians had to share power and take collective decisions in collegial assemblies. This chapter focuses on voters, procedures and uses. It also focuses on the nature of the Venetian political culture and the common principles that were shared by the population of the city. Voting was used in elections, to choose and designate rulers and representatives and to allocate equitably political functions which could be seen as privileges, resources or duties. For attractive functions, desired by many, the vote helped decide fairly between the different applicants and choose the best and more qualified candidates. The election of the doge was organized in the Great Council, and implied a long process combining phases of vote and phases of drawing lot.
