The delegate vote always tracks the results of primaries and caucuses in each state, so yes the voters do pick the candidate. There is no getting around the fact that Harris did not earn a single vote in a single primary or caucus.
VP Harris did not get votes that we know of in the primaries and caucuses. How could she have? She was not on the ballot. Only twelve states allow for write-in voting. In those that do, a write-in vote for VP Harris may not have counted depending on a state's voting rules. So, it is possible she did get write-in votes. We will never know.
There were no primaries prior to the early 1900's. The delegate vote mostly, but not always tracks the results of the primary and caucuses. Sen. Eugene McCarthy won the most primary votes, and yet lost to Sen. Hubert Humphrey in the delegate count. In 1952 Adlai Stevenson skipped the primary season but ran in the general against President Eisenhower and lost.
Never-the-less, VP Harris is a valid and legal Presidential candidate, which is what counts. Her not having the opportunity to campaign and be voted on in the primary elections puts her at a disadvantage. So, why is this such a problem for those of you who are not voting for her in the general election?