Democracy is a popularity contest. That's what it is. Elect implies popularity. People choose you because they want you to do that job. You can ask them to

Democracy is a popularity contest. That's what it is. Elect implies popularity. People choose you because they want you to do that job. You can ask them to choose you. And they can like you for whatever reason they please, they can like you because you're smart, or stupid (see Victor Hugo), any reason they want. It comes down to freedom, they're free to decide not only between A and B but with whatever rubric they like the best. For instance I only vote for candidates if they are heavily slandered. If both candidates, presidential candidates, have a perfect clean slate, neither has had any mud slung on them? Unthinkable. Still vote. Write "Count my vote void."