Diribitor (Nova Roma)

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The diribitores are a type of election officials as defined in article II.C.1. of the lex Tullia de comitiis habendis. In antiquity the diribitors were typically young men who had just completed their military service. The office of diribitor is a traditional first step toward the cursus honorum.

They are appointed by a presiding officer shortly before the comitia, or by the edict of summons, for the duration of the comitia. Their term of office ends automatically when the comitia are dissolved. They shall uniformly receive service points according to the article III.A.7.c.ii of the lex Arria de censu civium aestimando, “4th rank Officials: Apparitor (accensus, scriba, praeco, lictor etc)”. Only assidui can be appointed, and the presiding magistrate is not allowed to occupy this office.

The duties of the diribitores are:

• To count the votes within the tribes and centuries,
• To calculate the total result of the votes of tribes and centuries, and
• To resolve the ties which do not involve the drawing of lots.

Under the duration of the voting period, the diribitores have to count the votes and determine the result no later than 6 hours after the end of the voting period. If the diribitores need help in the counting, the rogatores and the custodes are allowed to assist. The rogatores may invite one or more diribitores to access the cista, and to be privy to the names of the voters; but those diribitores who are not involved shall still not receive the names for the counting.

One of the diribitores can also be appointed as custos. There shall be at least two diribitores for any given session of the comitia.