elects

Elects is the third-person singular present tense of the verb elect. The verb means to choose or decide, especially by vote, or to decide to undertake a course of action. In politics, it is used when a body or the public chooses a candidate or official: “The voters elect a mayor,” “The council elects a chair.” More broadly, elect can mean to decide to do something: “She elects to retire early.” The past tense is elected; the present participle is electing; the noun forms are election (the process) and the elect (the chosen individuals) in other senses.

Origin and range: From Latin eligere “to choose out,” via Old French eligir. The word has been in English since the Middle English period and remains common in formal or legal language as well as journalism and government prose. In everyday speech, “choose” or “decide” is more common than “elect,” especially outside official contexts.

Usage notes: “Elects” agrees with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it, the council). When used with “to,” the construction “elects to” introduces an infinitive: “The committee elects to postpone the vote.” The noun “the elect” refers to those chosen by God in religious contexts, but this sense is distinct from the verb form.

See also: election, elected, elect, elective, electorate.