Vice Presidential Election Scheduled for September 9, ECI Announces Timeline

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday released the official schedule for the 17th Vice Presidential election, setting the date of polling for September 9. The election will fill the vacancy in the Vice President’s office, as notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs on July 22.

With the current term nearing its end, the ECI has initiated the constitutional process to elect a new Vice President who will hold office for a full five-year term beginning on the date of assumption.

The election process formally begins with the notification for nominations on August 7. Candidates can file their nominations until August 21, with scrutiny scheduled for August 22. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is August 25. If an election is necessary, voting will take place on September 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., followed by counting of votes the same day.

The polling will be conducted at Room No. F-101, Vasudha, First Floor, Parliament House, New Delhi, under the supervision of the Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha, who has been appointed as the Returning Officer for the election.

The Vice President is chosen through a vote by an electoral college comprising both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members. This year, the electoral college consists of 782 members—including 543 elected members from the Lok Sabha (one seat currently vacant), and 245 members from the Rajya Sabha, including 12 nominated members (with five vacancies in the Upper House).

The election is held using the proportional representation system through a single transferable vote, with voting conducted via secret ballot. As mandated by the Constitution, secrecy is paramount. The ECI reminded all electors that open voting is strictly prohibited, and revealing marked ballots is a serious violation of election norms.

With the Vice President also serving as the ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, the election holds significant importance in India’s legislative framework. As the timeline begins, attention now turns to political parties and potential contenders for the country’s second-highest constitutional post.