It's possible for HN readers to make suggestions for the pool, and I'll do this periodically.
Usually it's for a story which simply died in queue, which as TFA notes, is the default. Occasionally it's to see if a discussion might get "re-railed" after it's gone off on some tangent --- people responding to a title or an early comment, most often.
I don't nominate my own posts, of course.
It may be a matter of how many such nominations occur, but I'd say my success rate is >50% in having those accepted.
TL;DR: it's not just dang, and normal HN'ers can participate.
Usually it's for a story which simply died in queue, which as TFA notes, is the default. Occasionally it's to see if a discussion might get "re-railed" after it's gone off on some tangent --- people responding to a title or an early comment, most often.
I don't nominate my own posts, of course.
It may be a matter of how many such nominations occur, but I'd say my success rate is >50% in having those accepted.
TL;DR: it's not just dang, and normal HN'ers can participate.