The electorate is a group of people who are eligible to vote in an election. It is also known as the voting population or the body of VOTERS. The term 'electorate' is derived from the Latin word 'ELECTOR', which means 'chooser'. Electorates can be divided into different categories, such as registered VOTERS, citizens, and residents. In the United States, the electorate consists of all citizens who are 18 years of age or older and who are registered to vote.