'ballottable' originates from English, specifically the word 'ballot' combined with the suffix '-able', where '-able' meant 'capable of or suitable for'.

'ballottable' is formed from the noun/verb 'ballot' (modern English) which itself comes from Italian 'ballotta' meaning 'little ball' used in voting; 'ballotta' developed into Medieval and Early Modern English 'ballot' (referring to the voting process) and the adjective was created by adding the English suffix '-able'.

Initially 'ballot' referred to a 'small ball used in voting' (and by extension the voting procedure); over time it came to mean the act or system of voting, and the adjective formation now means 'capable of being decided by ballot'.