What term describes delegates who are not committed to a candidate ahead of time?

The term "super delegates" specifically refers to delegates at a political party's convention who are not bound to vote for a particular candidate based on primary or caucus results. These individuals are typically party leaders, elected officials, or other prominent figures within the party, and they have the freedom to support any candidate they choose, regardless of the outcome of the voting in their respective states. This flexibility allows them to play a significant role in the nomination process, especially in close races, as they can effectively sway the outcome by lending their support to a candidate.

The concept of super delegates is primarily associated with the Democratic Party, where they can exert considerable influence due to their uncommitted status prior to the convention. This contrasts with primary delegates, who are usually selected through state-level primaries or caucuses and are often bound to vote for the candidate who wins those contests. Other options, like commitment delegates and electoral delegates, do not reflect established terminology in the context of delegate commitment, further underscoring why "super delegates" is the correct term for describing these uncommitted figures.