How is the President of India elected?
New Delhi : President Ram Nath Kovind's term is scheduled to end on July 24, 2022; as per Article 62 of the Indian Constitution, a new President will be elected on the basis of an election. The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for the 16th Presidential poll.
The Election Commission of India is authorized to issue a notification on or after the sixtieth day before the expiry of the term of office of the outgoing President. In this article, let's read how a President is elected in India.
WHO ELECTS THE PRESIDENT?
The President is elected by the members of the Electoral College consisting of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of all States including National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
In terms of numbers, the Electoral College is made up of 543 members of Lok Sabha, 233 members of Rajya Sabha and 4,033 members of Legislative Assemblies - a total of 4,809 electors, according to the Election Commission of India data.
The Members of Parliament are expected to cast their votes at the Place of Poll in the Parliament House, New Delhi, and members of State Legislative Assemblies are expected to vote at the respective State Capital.
According to EC, the total value of votes for all MPs combined is 5,43,200 and States is 5,43,231.
To win the elections, a candidate is required to score 50 per cent plus 1 vote.
Understanding voting for Presidential Polls
According to Article 55 (3) of the Constitution, the election is held in accordance with the System of Proportional Representation by means of single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.
There are two columns on the ballot paper. In one column the name of the contestant is mentioned and in the second column, the voter needs to mention his preference. The member of the electoral college casts his/her vote by placing figure 1 in the space next to the name of the contestant. The voter, if he/she wishes, can mark as many subsequent preferences on the ballot paper by placing the figures 2, 3, 4 and so on next to the name of the contestants.
How many Presidents have been in India to date?
This is the 16th Presidential poll but India has got only 14 Presidents as the first President of India Dr Rajendra Prasad had won the first two elections. The earlier elections for the office of the President of India were held in 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1969, 1974, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017.
