Hold forth to half the electorate (5)

I believe the answer is:

orate

'hold forth' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'half the electorate' is the wordplay.
'half the' indicates taking half.
'electorate' cut in half is 'ORATE'.

'to' is the link.

(Other definitions for orate that I've seen before include "Give speech" , "Harangue" , "Lecture" , "Speak publicly" , "Spout" .)

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

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