a. and sb. [f. prec. + -AL.]
A. adj. 1. Relating to or composed of electors: see ELECTOR 1.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 268. I only consider this constitution as electoral.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist. (1876), III. xv. 148. Control of the electoral over the representative body.
1845. Sarah Austin, trans. Ranke’s Hist. Ref., I. 413. Austria had … friends in the electoral college.
1851. Gallenga, trans. Mariotti’s Italy, 197. Bozzelli followed up his scheme by an electoral law.
1852. Gladstone, Glean., IV. lxxviii. 120. Extension of the electoral franchise.
2. Holding rank as, or belonging to, a German Elector.
1675. Lond. Gaz., No. 978/3. His Electoral Highness has convoked the States.
1788. H. Walpole, Remin., ii. 16. George the first, while electoral prince, had married his cousin.
1834. Macaulay, Chatham, Ess. (1854), I. 301. Frederick … had set his heart on the Electoral dominions of his uncle.
¶ 3. = ELECTIVE 1. rare.
1849. Sir J. Stephen, Eccl. Biog. (1850), I. 88. He found the Papacy electoral by the Roman people and clergy.
1866. C. W. Hoskyns, Essays, 223. Harold was the favourite of the people, and their electoral king.
† B. sb. = ELECTOR (cf. A. 2). Obs.
1692. Lond. Gaz., No. 2816/3. The Electoral of Saxony. Ibid. (1693), 2893/2. The Electoral gave Orders to march immediately. Ibid. (1707), No. 4358/3. His … Majesty having written to the Electoral of Hanover.
