Presidential Election

Notes

Art. 54 and 55 provide for an indirect election by an Electoral College, using proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (STV), by secret ballot.

Electoral College

Elected members of both Houses of Parliament.
Elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of States, including the NCT of Delhi and Puducherry (70th Amendment, 1992).
Excluded: nominated members of Parliament and State assemblies, members of Legislative Councils, and members of Legislative Assemblies of Union Territories other than Delhi and Puducherry.

Uniformity of representation (Art. 55)

Value of a vote of an MLA = Total population of the State (1971 Census) / (Total number of elected MLAs of the State × 1000).
Value of a vote of an MP = Total value of votes of all MLAs / Total number of elected MPs.
The 1971 Census base is frozen until the first Census after 2026 (84th Amendment, 2001).
This ensures parity between the Centre and the States, and uniformity among States.

Counting and quota

Quota = (Total valid votes / (Number of seats + 1)) + 1. For a single seat, a candidate needs more than 50% of valid votes.
Voters mark preferences (1, 2, 3...). If no candidate crosses the quota in the first count, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are transferred according to the next preference, until someone crosses the quota.

Nomination

Candidate must be proposed by 50 electors and seconded by 50 electors (raised from 10 each by the 1997 amendment to the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952).
Security deposit: ₹15,000; forfeited if the candidate gets less than one-sixth of valid votes.

Other points

Election is conducted by the Election Commission of India; Returning Officer is the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha by rotation.
Election must be held before the expiry of the term; if a vacancy occurs by death, resignation or removal, within six months.
11th Amendment (1961): election cannot be challenged on the ground of any vacancy in the Electoral College (Art. 71(4)).
Disputes: Supreme Court only. If the election is declared void, the acts of the President before the decision remain valid (Art. 71(2)).
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (1977) was elected unopposed.

Key Points

Indirect election; STV; secret ballot.
Electoral college: elected MPs and MLAs (including Delhi and Puducherry); nominated members and MLCs excluded.
Vote value uses the 1971 population (frozen until a Census after 2026).
50 proposers and 50 seconders; deposit ₹15,000.
Disputes decided by the Supreme Court.

MCQs

Q1. Which of the following is part of the Electoral College for the election of the President? (a) Nominated members of Lok Sabha (b) Elected members of Legislative Councils (c) Elected members of Legislative Assemblies of States (d) Nominated members of Rajya Sabha Ans: (c).

Q2. Which Amendment included the NCT of Delhi and Puducherry in the Electoral College? (a) 61st (b) 70th (c) 73rd (d) 84th Ans: (b). 1992.

Q3. A nomination for the President's post must be supported by how many proposers? (a) 10 (b) 20 (c) 50 (d) 100 Ans: (c). 50 proposers and 50 seconders.