Are the electors bound to vote for their candidates?

Are the electors bound to vote for their candidates?
In some states they have a free vote but in practice they vote for the candidates they are pledged to, while in other states they are required to do so.
Only nine electoral votes have been cast against the state's instructions by so-called "faithless" electors, and no result has been changed by it, according to the Congressional Research Service. And in 2000 an elector from the District of Columbia abstained.
If the result is extremely close, a "faithless" elector could cause real trouble. The issue would probably have to be decided by the courts.
The electors are chosen by the parties before the election, often in a vote at a convention. The electors then meet in state capitals after the election to cast their votes. The results are formally declared to the Senate on 6 January. The new president is inaugurated on 20 January. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
@Internationalrel