Faithless elector

A faithless elector is a member of the Electoral College who votes contrary to the official candidate they pledged to support during a presidential election. In the U.S., electors are typically chosen to represent their state's choice for president. While most voters expect electors to follow the popular vote, a faithless elector chooses to cast a different vote, which can potentially impact the election outcome. Laws regarding faithless electors vary by state, and some states impose penalties or void their votes, but their overall influence is usually limited.