For real? That's sick. I do not understand how a voter can pull a lever for an un-named candidate. Something illegal here.
What I described is exactly how presidential elections work. That we have a mental image otherwise is only because the disruptive events have not been experienced.
Totally legal. In the general, the living breathing human being you vote for is a party elector, not the nominee. And in a primary or a caucus, your voice, while directed to a living breathing candidate, actually translates into delegates at the nominating convention.
The politicians and party hacks argue that it is legal to put unqualified candidates on the ballot.