From NARA: The Electoral College consists of 538 electors. A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the President. Our state’s entitled allotment of electors equals the number of members in its Congressional delegation: one for each member in the House of Representatives plus two for our Senators. Ohio currently has 18 Electors. At the General Election the candidate who wins in Ohio is awarded these 18 votes in the Electoral College.
How does someone become an elector? The elector is nominated by his or her state party committee. It is interesting that the U.S. Constitution contains very few provisions relating to the qualifications of electors. While the constitution doesn't dictate what an elector should know or be able to do, it does suggest who or what an elector cannot be:
- He or she cannot be a Representative or Senator
- He or she cannot be a high-ranking U.S. official in a position of "trust or profit"
- He or she cannot be someone who has "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" against the U.S.