When citizens vote for president, what are they technically voting for?

When citizens cast their votes for president, they are technically voting for electors who have pledged to support a specific candidate. This process is part of the Electoral College system established by the U.S. Constitution. Each state has a certain number of electors based on its population, and when citizens vote, they are selecting their state's electors, who are then expected to cast their official votes for the candidate that has received the majority of the popular votes in that state.

This system reflects a compromise aimed at balancing the influence of populous states with less populous ones in the election of the president. Although voters are often focused on the candidates themselves, the actual mechanism of presidential selection involves these electors, who are tasked with formally electing the president and vice president. Thus, the correct answer highlights the role of electors in the electoral process, distinguishing it from a direct popular vote for the candidates or their platforms.