What should I look for in an electric steamer for use to make tamales
I have never cooked tamales before, but when looking for something that needs to get hot (griddle, waffle iron, steamer) 


Get something made out of metal. Plastic will not get as hot and will warp over time.
Avoid Low/Med/High dials, get something that will tell you the actual temperature.
Even heat distribution is key. Make sure the element/steam is not lopsided.


Some things that I would go for would be a glass top, a digital dial, and a safety power cord that detaches from the unit if yanked.