I did not say parties are illegal, only that they have no role in the Constitutional process, which is quite accurate.
The State Party generally is delegated the power to pick the Electoral College members of that State.
They have a role.
That role has, true, been delegated to them by the candidates, in most cases.
Bob Dole had NO control over the Delegates that went to the San Diego Convention. True that was a Party function.
However, Dole also did NOT get to pick the Electoral College “electors” from Kansas.
(I helped do that!)