Ancient India has several instances where the next ruler was selected by the royal elephant. Of course, it was not meant to be random, as the elephant would pick a righteous person capable of steering the kingdom at that time.
> Thus the process for electing the Doge, as of 1268 (when it was employed for the election of Lorenzo Tiepolo), had reached this amazing almost-final form [Lane p.111; also described by Lines p.156]:
> - Choose 30 of the Great Council members (of whom there were 1000-to-1500, typically; all male) by a random process;
> - Reduce them to 9 by random processes;
> - The 9 name 40 nominees;
> - The 40 are reduced to 12 by a random process;
> - the 12 name 25 nominees;
> - Reduce them to 9 by random processes;
> - The 9 name 45 nominees;
> - Reduce them to 11 by random processes;
> - The 11 named 41 (all of whom had to be age≥40 years);
> - The 41 elected the Doge (from among nominees they chose; any of the 41 could write a name on a slip of paper, and from then onward, that name was a candidate) by range3 voting!
> - This choice theoretically was subject to approval or veto by the mass of the people (assembly) but I am unaware of any instance in which that veto was exercised. This perhaps meant this step was a mere formality with the People not really having any power. But another interpretation is that the threat of a veto kept the Grand Council honest in its choice – they refused to risk the embarrassment of a veto.
> Thus the process for electing the Doge, as of 1268 (when it was employed for the election of Lorenzo Tiepolo), had reached this amazing almost-final form [Lane p.111; also described by Lines p.156]:
> - Choose 30 of the Great Council members (of whom there were 1000-to-1500, typically; all male) by a random process;
> - Reduce them to 9 by random processes;
> - The 9 name 40 nominees;
> - The 40 are reduced to 12 by a random process;
> - the 12 name 25 nominees;
> - Reduce them to 9 by random processes;
> - The 9 name 45 nominees;
> - Reduce them to 11 by random processes;
> - The 11 named 41 (all of whom had to be age≥40 years);
> - The 41 elected the Doge (from among nominees they chose; any of the 41 could write a name on a slip of paper, and from then onward, that name was a candidate) by range3 voting!
> - This choice theoretically was subject to approval or veto by the mass of the people (assembly) but I am unaware of any instance in which that veto was exercised. This perhaps meant this step was a mere formality with the People not really having any power. But another interpretation is that the threat of a veto kept the Grand Council honest in its choice – they refused to risk the embarrassment of a veto.