Election vs. Selection — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on September 21, 2023
Election involves choosing leaders or representatives by popular vote, while Selection is the act of choosing or picking from a set of options.
Difference Between Election and Selection
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Election primarily refers to the process by which people vote to choose a leader or representative for public office. It is an essential component of democratic systems, where citizens have the right to decide who will govern or represent them. On the other hand, Selection pertains to the general act of choosing or picking from a set of options, which can be applied to various contexts, not just political.
While Election is mainly associated with the political realm, Selection is a broader term and can be applied in contexts such as recruitment, shopping, or any scenario where choices are made. For instance, a company might have a selection process to hire a new employee, or a person might make a selection at a grocery store.
An Election ensures that the choice is made collectively, typically through a voting process, ensuring that a majority or a significant portion of the electorate's voice is represented. Conversely, Selection can be an individual or collective decision, depending on the context.
It's worth noting that while all Elections involve selection (since voters select a candidate), not all Selections are elections. An individual selecting a book from a bookstore doesn't constitute an election, but a mere selection.
To reiterate, while Election has a specific focus on the political process of choosing representatives or leaders through votes, Selection is a versatile term representing the act of choosing from various options, whether in political, professional, or daily life scenarios.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A formal decision-making process by which people choose a representative.
The act of choosing from among a group or range of alternatives.
Context
Primarily political.
Broad - can be applied in various contexts.
Mechanism
Typically involves voting.
Can be individual or collective, doesn't necessarily involve voting.
Outcome
Results in representatives or leaders being chosen.
Results in a choice being made from available options.
Associated with
Democracy, governance.
Choices, options, preferences.
Compare with Definitions
Election
Election pertains to the formal process of voting.
The presidential Election attracted a high voter turnout.
Selection
Selection is the act of choosing or picking.
She made her Selection from the dessert menu.
Election
Election indicates the act of choosing a person or group of people for a specific position or duty.
The Election of the new board members will occur next month.
Selection
Selection represents a range of things from which a choice can be made.
The store offers a wide Selection of wines.
Election
Election suggests the right or ability to make a choice.
The Election of the club's president is granted to all its members.
Selection
Selection indicates the outcome of a choosing process.
His Selection for the team surprised many.
Election
Election can represent the result of a voting process.
The Election results were announced late in the evening.
Selection
Selection can denote a carefully chosen group.
The book features a Selection of the author's best essays.
Election
Election refers to a public decision-making process in democratic systems.
The country is preparing for its upcoming general Election.
Selection
Selection refers to the variety or assortment of options available.
The art gallery boasts a fine Selection of contemporary paintings.
Election
An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated since the 17th century.
Selection
The act of selecting something
Looked at the pears and made a careful selection.
Election
The act or process of electing someone to fill an office or position
Officers are chosen by election and not by appointment.
Selection
One that is selected, such as a literary or musical text chosen for reading or performance
For her last selection she sang an old favorite.
Election
An instance of this
Did you vote in this election?.
Selection
A carefully chosen or representative collection of people or things
A book containing a selection of the author's best work.
Election
The fact of being elected
Her election to the Senate.
Selection
A range of things from which one can make a choice
A store with a wide selection of magazines.
Election
An act of choosing; a selection
Your election of benefits.
Selection
(Biology) A natural or artificial process that involves the survival and reproduction of some kinds of organisms instead of others (because they have traits that are better adapted to the environment or that are preferred by a breeder, for example) and results in changes in the traits of a population or species.
Election
Predestined salvation, especially as conceived by Calvinists.
Selection
The process or act of selecting.
The large number of good candidates made selection difficult.
Election
A process of choosing a leader, members of parliament, councillors, or other representatives by popular vote.
The parliamentary election(s) will be held in March.
How did you vote in (UK also: at) the last election?
Selection
Something selected.
Election
The choice of a leader or representative by popular vote.
The election of John Smith was due to his broad appeal.
Selection
A variety of items taken from a larger collection.
I've brought a selection of fine cheeses to go with your wine.
Election
An option that is selected.
W-4 election
Selection
A musical piece.
For my next selection, I'll play Happy Birthday in F-sharp minor.
Election
(archaic) Any conscious choice.
Selection
(databases) A set of data obtained from a database using a query.
Election
(theology) In Calvinism, God's predestination of saints including all of the elect.
Selection
(linguistics) The ability of predicates to determine the semantic content of their arguments. Wp
Election
(obsolete) Those who are elected.
Selection
(programming) A list of items on which user operations will take place. Wp
Election
The act of choosing; choice; selection.
Selection
(algebra) A unary operation that denotes a subset of a relation.
Election
The act of choosing a person to fill an office, or to membership in a society, as by ballot, uplifted hands, or viva voce; as, the election of a president or a mayor.
Corruption in elections is the great enemy of freedom.
Selection
(historical) The free selection before survey of crown land in some Australian colonies under land legislation introduced in the 1860s. Wp
Election
Power of choosing; free will; liberty to choose or act.
Selection
(biology) The stage of a genetic algorithm in which individual genomes are chosen from a population for later breeding. Wp
Election
Discriminating choice; discernment.
To use men with much difference and election is good.
Selection
(biology) natural selection
Election
Divine choice; predestination of individuals as objects of mercy and salvation; - one of the "five points" of Calvinism.
There is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Selection
The act of selecting, or the state of being selected; choice, by preference.
Election
The choice, made by a party, of two alternatives, by taking one of which, the chooser is excluded from the other.
Selection
That which is selected; a collection of things chosen; as, a choice selection of books.
Election
Those who are elected.
The election hath obtained it.
He has made his election to walk, in the main, in the old paths.
Selection
The act of choosing or selecting;
Your choice of colors was unfortunate
You can take your pick
Election
A vote to select the winner of a position or political office;
The results of the election will be announced tonight
Selection
An assortment of things from which a choice can be made;
The store carried a large selection of shoes
Election
The act of selecting someone or something; the exercise of deliberate choice;
Her election of medicine as a profession
Selection
The person or thing chosen or selected;
He was my pick for mayor
Election
The status or fact of being elected;
They celebrated his election
Selection
A natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment
Election
The predestination of some individuals as objects of divine mercy (especially as conceived by Calvinists)
Selection
A passage selected from a larger work;
He presented excerpts from William James' philosophical writings
Common Curiosities
Can an Election be seen as a type of Selection?
Yes, an Election is a specific form of Selection where representatives or leaders are chosen through votes.
Can the outcome of a Selection process be multiple choices?
Yes, depending on the context, a Selection process can result in multiple choices being made.
Why is Election important in a democracy?
Election ensures that the citizens' voices are represented, allowing them to choose their leaders or representatives.
How is an Election different from a referendum?
While both involve voting, an Election chooses representatives or leaders, while a referendum decides on a specific policy or question.
Is Selection always about politics?
No, Selection is a broader term that can be applied to any act of choosing, whether in shopping, recruitment, or other scenarios.
What does Election generally mean in a political context?
Election typically refers to the process where citizens vote to choose representatives or leaders.
Do all Selections involve voting?
No, not all Selections involve voting. For instance, choosing a dress from a store is a selection but doesn't involve voting.
What ensures fairness in an Election?
Transparent processes, independent oversight, and equal voting rights help ensure Election fairness.
Is every citizen eligible to participate in an Election?
Eligibility varies by country and can depend on factors like age, residency, and sometimes criminal history.
Can Selection be an individual choice?
Yes, Selection can be an individual decision, like picking a book, or a collective one, like a committee selecting a candidate.
Why is Selection important in recruitment?
Selection ensures that the best-suited candidates are chosen based on criteria like skills, experience, and fit for a role.
Is the process of Election always transparent?
Ideally, Elections should be transparent, but factors like voter suppression or fraud can sometimes compromise transparency.
In what scenarios outside politics do we see Selection processes?
Selection processes are seen in recruitment, academic admissions, and even when choosing items to purchase.
Can a Selection be random?
Yes, Selection can be random, like drawing lots, or based on specific criteria.
Can the terms Election and Selection be used interchangeably?
While both involve making choices, they aren't always interchangeable. Election specifically refers to voting-based choices, mainly in politics.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
