1270, from Anglo-Fr. eleccioun, from L. electionem, from stem of eligere "pick out, select," from ex- "out" + -ligere, comb. form of legere "to choose, read" (see lecture). Elect (v.) is first recorded 1494. Electioneer first attested 1789 in writing of Thomas Jefferson. Elective, of school subjects studied at the student's choice, first recorded 1847.
E*lec"tion\, n. [F. ['e]lection, L. electio, fr. eligere to choose out. See Elect, a.]1. The act of choosing; choice; selection. 2. 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. --J. Adams. 3. Power of choosing; free will; liberty to choose or act. "By his own election led to ill." --Daniel. 4. Discriminating choice; discernment. [Obs.] To use men with much difference and election is good. --Bacon. 5. (Theol.) 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. --Rom. xi. 5. 6. (Law) The choice, made by a party, of two alternatives, by taking one of which, the chooser is excluded from the other. 7. Those who are elected. [Obs.] The election hath obtained it. --Rom. xi. 7. To contest an election. See under Contest. To make one's election, to choose. He has made his election to walk, in the main, in the old paths. --Fitzed. Hall.
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