[681] Now at that time a legal issue (adhikaraṇa) had thus arisen, thus come about, at Sāvatthī. Then those bhikkhus, dissatisfied with the settling of the issue by the Saṅgha at Sāvatthī, heard: "In such-and-such a residence, it seems, several elders are dwelling who are learned, versed in the tradition, bearers of the Dhamma, bearers of the Vinaya, bearers of the Mātikā, wise, competent, intelligent, conscientious, scrupulous, desirous of the training. If those elders were to settle this issue in accordance with the Dhamma, the Vinaya, and the Teacher's instruction, thus this issue would be well settled." Then those bhikkhus went to that residence and said to those elders: "Venerable sirs, this issue has thus arisen, thus come about. It would be good, venerable sirs, if the elders would settle this issue in accordance with the Dhamma, the Vinaya, and the Teacher's instruction, so that this issue may be well settled." Then those elders settled that issue just as the issue had been settled by the Saṅgha at Sāvatthī, just as it had been well settled.
Then those bhikkhus, dissatisfied with the settling of the issue by the Saṅgha at Sāvatthī, dissatisfied with the settling of the issue by the several elders, heard: "In such-and-such a residence, it seems, three elders are dwelling … two elders are dwelling … one elder is dwelling who is learned, versed in the tradition, a bearer of the Dhamma, a bearer of the Vinaya, a bearer of the Mātikā, wise, competent, intelligent, conscientious, scrupulous, desirous of the training. If that elder were to settle this issue in accordance with the Dhamma, the Vinaya, and the Teacher's instruction, thus this issue would be well settled." Then those bhikkhus went to that residence and said to that elder: "Venerable sir, this issue has thus arisen, thus come about. It would be good, venerable sir, if the elder would settle this issue in accordance with the Dhamma, the Vinaya, and the Teacher's instruction, so that this issue may be well settled." Then that elder settled that issue just as the issue had been settled by the Saṅgha at Sāvatthī, just as the issue had been settled by the several elders, just as the issue had been settled by the three elders, just as the issue had been settled by the two elders, just as it had been well settled.
Then those bhikkhus, dissatisfied with the settling of the issue by the Saṅgha at Sāvatthī, dissatisfied with the settling of the issue by the several elders, dissatisfied with the settling of the issue by the three elders, dissatisfied with the settling of the issue by the two elders, dissatisfied with the settling of the issue by the one elder, approached the Blessed One, and having approached, they informed the Blessed One of this matter.
"Bhikkhus, that issue has been disposed of; it is settled, allayed, well settled. Bhikkhus, I allow, for the convincing of those bhikkhus, three ways of taking voting tickets (salākagāha): the secret, the whispering-in-the-ear, and the open.
"And how, bhikkhus, is the taking of voting tickets secret? The bhikkhu who is the distributor of the tickets, having made the tickets of different colors, should approach each bhikkhu one by one and say to him: 'This is the ticket of one who speaks thus; this is the ticket of one who speaks thus; take whichever you wish.' When it has been taken, he should be told: 'Do not show it to anyone.' If he knows, 'Those who speak non-Dhamma are in the majority,' it should be annulled as 'badly taken.' If he knows, 'Those who speak Dhamma are in the majority,' it should be announced as 'well taken.' Thus, bhikkhus, is the taking of voting tickets secret.
"And how, bhikkhus, is the taking of voting tickets by whispering in the ear? The bhikkhu who is the distributor of the tickets should announce close to the ear of each single bhikkhu: 'This is the ticket of one who speaks thus; this is the ticket of one who speaks thus; take whichever you wish.' When it has been taken, he should be told: 'Do not inform anyone.' If he knows, 'Those who speak non-Dhamma are in the majority,' it should be annulled as 'badly taken.' If he knows, 'Those who speak Dhamma are in the majority,' it should be announced as 'well taken.' Thus, bhikkhus, is the taking of voting tickets by whispering in the ear.
"And how, bhikkhus, is the taking of voting tickets open? If he knows, 'Those who speak Dhamma are in the majority,' the tickets should be taken by an unconcealed, open taking of tickets. Thus, bhikkhus, is the taking of voting tickets open.
"These, bhikkhus, are the three ways of taking voting tickets."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.