direct nomination

Direct nomination \Direct nomination\ (Political Science)
   The nomination or designation of candidates for public office
   by direct popular vote rather than through the action of a
   convention or body of elected nominating representatives or
   delegates. The term is applied both to the nomination of
   candidates without any nominating convention, and, loosely,
   to the nomination effected, as in the case of candidates for
   president or senator of the United States, by the election of
   nominating representatives pledged or instructed to vote for
   certain candidates dssignated by popular vote.
   [Webster 1913 Suppl.]