elector

noun

elec·​tor i-ˈlek-tər 

-ˌtȯr

plural electors

1

: a person qualified to vote in an election

2

: a person appointed by a state in the U.S. to vote for president and vice president in the electoral college

When Americans cast their ballots, they are actually voting for a slate of electors appointed by their state's political parties who are pledged to support that party's candidate.

—Allyson Waller

3

: any of the German princes entitled to take part in choosing the Holy Roman Emperor

Examples of elector in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The court contended inactive voters on the list continue to be qualified electors. —Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 15 July 2024

After the 2020 election, several states, including Wisconsin, put together groups of fake electors intended to substitute for actual electors during the electoral count on January 6, 2021. —Ricardo Torres, Journal Sentinel, 13 July 2024

While there's no rule prohibiting the president and vice president from being from the same state, Article 12 of the U.S. Constitution states that electors in the Electoral College may not cast two votes from their same state. —David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024

The state constitution already says that qualified electors are American citizens. —Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 9 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing elector

• faithless elector

Kids Definition

elector

noun

elec·​tor i-ˈlek-tər 

-ˌtȯ(ə)r

1

: one qualified to vote in an election

2

: a person appointed by a state in the U.S. to vote for president and vice president in the electoral college

Legal Definition

elector

noun

elec·​tor

1

: a person who is qualified to vote

2

: a member of the electoral college in the U.S.