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In the Artscroll prayer, the point at which the shaliach tzibbir begins reading aloud is marked by little dots. During the year, the Ashrei prayer has little dots before "tehillat hashem". But in the Selichot book, the dots are before "tzadik hashem b'chol d'rachav".
Is there a different selichot-relevant meaning or purpose to having the chazzan begin reading out loud at the earlier point?
I'm vaguely recalling what I had heard many years ago when I studied Nusach at the Belz School of Jewish music (part of Yeshiva University.)
Cantor Beer taught the course on Selichot and he was (and still is) a maven on Tefillah history. He explained that beginning at Tzaddik Hashem bechol Derachav is a "recurring" theme for Selichot as well as the High holiday season. One of the fundamentals of Teshuva is admitting the concept that "G-d is correct and righteous and mankind is sinful." There are similar phrases scattered throughout various Selichot and other Tefillot, esp. on Yom Kippur.
Similarly, the next verse, Karov Hashem Lechol Kor'av - "G-d is near to all those that call to him" - is likewise an appropriate Selichot / High Holiday theme. We pray and hope that G-d listens to our prayers and pleas at this time of year and forgives us for our sins and helps us perform better to serve Him.
