Crossword Genius

Defector has a position at top Electorate (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

apostate

'defector' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'a position at top electorate' is the wordplay.
'position' becomes 'post' (synonyms).
'top' says to take the initial letters (in a down clue, the first letter is top).
The initial letter of 'electorate' is 'e'.
'a'+'post'+'at'+'e'='APOSTATE'

'has' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for apostate that I've seen before include "Person who renounces a former belief or religion" , "Deserte" , "One deserting" , "Renouncer of a belief" , "heretic" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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