if the choices were legitimately from the people, and not pre-selected by the elites

What does voting imply? A suggestion by the choice of the few towards consent by the choice of the many. What choice does voting imply? Want (voting others) over need (being choice). What does choosing want over need imply? The conflict between wanting vs not wanting the suggested (voting). This conflict (reason) is then rebranded in political left vs right, and which side one chooses to want or not want is irrelevant; since ones already ignored need when consenting to suggested want.

"elite" represents the sleight of hand for those with eyes to see; because calling others elite (selection; choice) implies ignorance of ones own free will of choice. If the many ignore to represent the ones with choice; then few become the chosen ones.