選 - Line Them Up and CHOOSE

Readings & Meanings:

えら（ぶ）

セン

to choose

Common Usage:

選ぶ

選挙

選手

Examples:

熟したアボカドを選んで買った。

選挙に立候補する。

彼はマラソンの選手に選ばれた。

Translations:

I chose and bought a ripe avocado.

I'm running for office in the election.

He was chosen to be an athlete in the marathon.

Radical:

選 has the Shinnyou or Road Radical, the left and bottom framing radical that stems from 辵 (movement).

巽, though its meaning is "southeast" through borrrowing, is a pictograph of two people lined up (the backwards S's on the top) with a pair of hands (a form of 廾).

So the combination is, line people up to choose which one to go with.

Bonus:

大統領選 means "presidential election," but cuts off the kyo of 選挙.

References:

http://www.kanjinetworks.com/indices/radindex.html
http://www.thejapanesepage.com/node/kanji/e.htm