The Electoral College’s usually ceremonial role has come under focus in the aftermath of the 2016 election due to a number of factors — including that Democrat Hillary Clinton won the national popular vote by a significant margin, and the finding by the CIA and FBI that Russia used hacking to try to influence the election. In light of these circumstances, pundits and members of the public are considering what role the 538 electors can and should play in deciding the final outcome of the election.