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

1913    The 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution, requiring direct election of Senators, becomes law.

1993    Mongolia holds its first direct presidential elections.

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