Role play of each characters and its irony

Throughout the novel, both the "brothers" of the society and the readers are constantly reminded that men have to live for their brothers and that there is no "I" in the world. This can also be interpreted as stating that men should not have any feelings nor keep their dignity.

They must listen to everything the councils order them to and there is not a single way out of this way of living. However, as I was reading, I noticed an irony when the councils were talking to the brothers. In page 25 of the novel, the councils tell the men, "by a free and general vote of all men." My question is, how can it be a free vote if starting from the beginning, men were told exactly what to do by the Council? The Councils even pick what jobs the students will have, also mentioned in page 25. They compare men to see which job is best suitable for each, then once ordered to the student, that student will immediately start the job regardless of their identity as a student. For example, if the council said "Carpenter" or "Cook", the students so assigned go to work and do not study any further.

Back to my point, if all men are trained to do, say, eat everything that's been scheduled already for them, how are they expected to have their own thoughts in the first place? Free votes from men does not make any sense at all, nor does it come even close to what the councils are making the men capable of.