Final answer:
The first step in the process for election of a pope is the Announcement of Vacancy, which is followed by a Papal Conclave where cardinals vote, and the election result is later signaled by white smoke.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question "What is the 1st step in the process for election of a pope?" pertains to the procedure within the Catholic Church to elect the supreme leader, the pope, after the position becomes vacant. The correct answer is not among the provided detailed options connected to the broader mechanisms of political elections, as they deal with presidential election processes. However, if we were to answer based on the usual sequence of the papal election process, the first step would be the Announcement of Vacancy following the death or resignation of a pope. Only after the vacancy is announced do the cardinal electors gather in a Papal Conclave to vote for the new pope. The emergence of white smoke is a later step indicating that a new pope has been selected, and it follows the actual conclave and vote.