US election??

[R1Geezer]

OK I know that each state has a certain number of "Electoral college" votes and that when a candidate wins a state he get's them added to his total. Ok so far so good, I also know that the Electoral college does meet and actually have to cast those votes, so how is that done? I mean does the winning cadidate have to select a college member on their side as it where and trust them to go along and actually vote the right way? Has any college member ever not voted the right way? can they abstain? Is it in reality just a rubber stamping operation?

[kempie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_College _(United_States)