When the discussion was over the _contio_ was dissolved. Those who had no votes were dismissed from the enclosure;[1287] to those with votes the magistrate said, “Si vobis videtur, discedite, quirites,”[1288] thus asking them to divide up into their separate compartments, whether tribes or curiae or centuries. The enclosure was deemed large enough to hold all the privileged citizens, although where such a space could have been found on the Capitol or in the Forum is one of the mysteries of Roman topography. This enclosure was divided longitudinally into as many compartments (_consaepta_) as there were voting divisions. Each division was connected with the magistrate’s tribunal through a gallery (_pons_) running the whole length of the enclosure, this high gallery being connected with the various voting compartments by separate descending _pontes_. The votes in each compartment were taken singly, and were given at the exits of the various _pontes_. During the greater part of Republican history votes were given verbally, the tellers (_rogatores_) marking them off on tablets by means of points (_puncta_).[1289] In legislation the affirmative answer was _uti rogas_, the negative _antiquo_; in jurisdiction acquittal and condemnation were pronounced by _libero_ and _damno_; in elections _dico_ and _facio_ seem to have been employed.[1290] But in the latter half of the second century of the Republic the ballot was introduced. The change was gradual. Secrecy was first secured for elections by the _lex Gabinia_ of 139, and for jurisdiction, with the exception of cases of treason (_perduellio_), by the _lex Cassia_ of 137. The _lex Papiria_ of 131 extended the principle to legislation, and finally the _lex Caelia_ of 107 admitted it for cases of treason.[1291] In legislation and jurisdiction the old formulae were retained, the tablets which were distributed being marked V and A, or L and C. For the purpose of elections blank tablets were distributed on which the voters wrote the names.[1292] The _tabellae_ were now thrown into an urn (_cista_) at the exit of each _pons_. The reckoning of the votes (_diribitio_) was in the hands of tellers who were sometimes called by the old name _rogatores_, but were also spoken of as _diribitores_.[1293] The _cistae_ were watched by public _custodes_, and in the case of elections the candidates were allowed to place one guardian at each urn.[1294]