What is a 'faithless elector'?

A 'faithless elector' is defined as an elector who does not vote for the candidate they are pledged to support. In the context of the Electoral College in the United States, electors are typically chosen to represent the political party that received the majority of votes in their state during the presidential election. Each elector has pledged to cast their vote for their party's candidate. When an elector goes against this pledge and votes for someone else or abstains from voting, they are considered 'faithless.' This phenomenon highlights the potential for electors to act independently, despite being bound by their party's nomination and the expectations of voters. Although faithless electors are rare, instances have occurred in history, prompting discussions about the nature and functionality of the Electoral College system.