Finance
The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Friday the schedule for the 17th Vice Presidential election, which would be place on September 9.
The election is being held to fill a vacancy in the Vice President’s office, as announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs on July 22. The next Vice President will serve a full five-year term beginning the day the position is accepted.
According to the schedule shared by the poll panel, the notification for the election will be issued on August 7, last date for making nominations is August 21, date for the scrutiny of nominations on August 22, last date for the withdrawal of candidatures is August 25, the date of poll (if needed) on September 9 (between 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.) and the date of counting (if needed) on the same day of polling.
The Vice President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The 2025 electoral college is composed of 788 members, including 233 elected (presently five seats are vacant in the Upper House) and 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha, and 543 elected members of the Lok Sabha (one seat vacant in the Lower House).
Currently, there are 782 members in the electoral college due to vacant seats.
The election is conducted using a secret ballot and a proportional representation system with a single transferable vote. The Election Commission of India has selected the Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha as the Returning Officer for the election.
The poll will take place in Room No. F-101, Vasudha, First Floor, Parliament House, New Delhi.
Notably, the Constitution clearly states that elections for the office of Vice President must be conducted by secret vote. As a result, electors are supposed to keep their votes strictly secret. There is no concept of open voting in this election, and revealing the vote to anyone under any circumstances during Presidential and Vice Presidential elections is strictly prohibited.
