Voting Rings

Voting rings are open bands of braided metal that are moved from one finger to the other in an annual progression to mark the years until the next Year of the Hand.  These rings are a bull's license to take part in votes for public office and referendums. Such a ring is earned only through proving oneself to be a valued member of society. Earning a voting ring can be done through acts of courage, honour, loyalty, winning a boxing championship or something similar.
Any minotaur that has a voting ring is able to give a voting ring to one that he feels has earned it. The act is voted on by the senate and, if passed, written into a book that contains all acts that have earned a minotaur a ring within the city.
Only bulls earn voting rings, rarely a bull calf may earn this right.  Throughout minotaur history a handful of cows have proven themselves so strongly that they were given a voting ring.  While a wise bull will take the opinion of the others in his house into account when he casts his vote this is neither a requirement not an expectation.