The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Friday that the election for the Vice President’s position will occur on September 9. As per a press release from the poll body, the notification for the 17th Vice Presidential election will be released on August 9.
The vacancy in the Office of the Vice President arose due to the abrupt resignation by Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, citing health grounds. In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar said, “To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution.”
As per the provisions of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, and the Constitution, the poll body is required to fill the vacancy as soon as possible.
The electoral college for the election consists of 788 members from both Houses of Parliament, which includes 233 elected and 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha, along with 543 elected members of the Lok Sabha.
Currently, there are six empty seats — five in the Rajya Sabha and one in the Lok Sabha — resulting in an electoral college strength of 782. If needed, polling will occur in Room No. F-101, Vasudha, located on the first floor of the Parliament building on September 9 from 10 am until 5 pm.
PC Mody, Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha, has been designated as the Returning Officer (RO) for the election, supported by two Assistant Returning Officers (AROs). The electoral body emphasized that voting will occur via secret ballot, and voters are required to indicate their choices with a special pen supplied at the voting station . “There is no concept of open voting in this election and showing the ballot to anyone under any circumstances is totally prohibited,” the commission said.
