presidential electors

The presidential electors exercise a federal function in balloting for President and Vice-President but they are not federal officers or agents any more than the state elector who votes for congressmen. They act by authority of the state that in turn receives its authority from the federal constitution.

Defined by the Supreme Court in - Ray v. Blair, 343 U.S. 214 (1952).

Persons chosen in the different states whose sole duty it is to elect a president and vice-president of the United States. Each state appoints a number of electors equal to the whole number of senators and representatives to which the state is entitled in congress, and it Is within the power of the state legislature to direct how such electors shall be appointed. (Const, art. ii. sect. 1). The electors have frequently been appointed by the state legislatures directly, and they have been elected separately by congressional districts; but the more usual method of appointment is by general ballot, so that each voter in a state votes for the whole number of electors to which his state is entitled. The appointment and mode of appointment of electors belong exclusively to the states, under the constitution; Mc Pherson v. Blacker, 146 U. S. 1, 13 Sup. Ct. 3, 36 L. Ed. 869. The constitution provides, Amend, art. 12, that “the electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for president and vice-president, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as president, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as vice-president; and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as president, and of all persons voted for as vicepresident, and of the number of votes for each, which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit, sealed, to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the president of the senate.” See President of the United States; Electoral College; Constitution.