To ensure the survival of his legislation Gaius decided against all precedent to run for a third consecutive term. On election day, Gaius emerged with the necessary number of votes to secure reelection, but the observers who monitored the election tripped over themselves challenging Gaius’s ballots, alleging that most were fraudulent and that the ballot box had been stuffed. It did not take long for the magistrates in charge of the election to agree, toss out most of Gaius’s votes, and declare him defeated. Gaius protested, but there was nothing he could do. The election results were verified
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