Избирать/избрать has 2 meanings: 1) to choose, to give preference to sth (somewhat high style in my opiniion) and 2) to elect (often used in passive constructions and also forms all kind of stuff used for elections). - Он избрал нелёгкий путь. - Его избрали президентом сроком на 4 года. Он был избран президентом. Избиратели пришли на избирательные участки рано утром. Выбирать/выбрать has a wider range of meaning, including the abovementionned. But the general meaning is to choose, to pick up. - Какой вам нравится? Выбирайте любой. - Он выбрал длинную дорогу, потому что она была суше. - Его выбрали президентом клуба. Он был выбран президентом. Сегодня вся страна выбирает президента. I'd suggest in sich cases consult a dictionary and compare the words' meanings. It's completely in Russian, but it's good preactice ;) For example, have a look here here: http://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/ushakov/769058

Usually we speak "выбрать". You may speak this word in any episode. But if you decide something serious case, you may also speak "избрать". 2 examples: 1. Choose (any) path. Choose the path of Development 2. Choose a leader. I think "избрать" = "to elect" But if you use the word "выбрать" in the second example, it is not a mistake. In everyday life better to use "выбрать"

Prefixes ИЗ and ВЫ have the meaning = out from inside. Брать = to take. Though из has a stronger meaning closer to someting more stable or even permanent. See the diference with other word гнать - chase Выгнать is to get somebody out from the room for sometime. Изгнать is to cast somebody out from the society, country... forever or for a long period of time. Выбор (choice) is a decision but you can change at any time if you like something better. Избранное is not just chosen but also appointed to play the main role for a certain period of time. Выбранный путь (до школы, жизни) - chosen way (to school, for living). Избранный путь (жизни) - chosen way (for living) as the main purpose for one's life. Выбирают друзей или директора - you can choose a friend or the director. Избирают директора (director gets elected in some companies) However these two prefixes have some other meaning that aren't connected to this subject.

"Выбрать" means "to make a choice", having considered a variety of options to determine the desired or desirable choice of the most suitable option or choose an alternative. Example: --Я хочу выбрать тебя. (I want to choose you) -- Я хочу выбрать красный цвет. (I want to choose red color) --Я выбираю тебя ( I am choosing you). Means "I've looked at all applicants for this role, and I am choosing you". "Избрать" is an election term, official term, i.e. president election, senator election, etc. Example: -- Мы хотим/думаем/предпочитаем избрать наиболлее гуманного и образованного президента. I hope this helps :)

"избрать" is an old-fashioned word used mainly in a ceremonial sense. "выбрать" is just an everyday word used for everything. For example, you can choose a beer and say "я выбрал". If you say "я избрал", it will sound funny in this case. But if you choose a wife or a president or a way in life, you can say either "избрал" or "выбрал", and it will not sound funny. In fact, "избрал" is more fitting here because of a serious nature of an event. This actually works with other words. For example, "изгнать" - "выгнать", "излечить" - "вылечить".