A Page from Our Book
Page 15 – The Phases of Any Election Process
Let us next outline the three phases of any election process. They can be described as:
1. Nomination—the possibilities
2. Candidate Selection—the probabilities
3. Final Vote—the ultimate selection—the pick
Each of these phases pertains to a separate function that can be performed using one of the following election methodologies:
a) Direct election by the whole electorate (all voters) in a democracy
b) Indirect election by delegates in a representative republic
c) Indirect election for one phase and direct election for another phase
d) Indirect election by separate sets of delegates (electors) representing different interests for each phase.
The Framers designed a complex representative republic implementing all of these methods. They chose this last method (indirect election by separate sets of delegates) to select the President and Vice-President of the United States.
