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Vice-President is elected by the members of the Electoral College consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote

14th Vice-Presidential Election to be held on 7 August 2012

04-Jul-2012, 09:12

The Election Commission (EC) of India through a press note stated that the term of office of Mohd. Hamid Ansari, Vice-President of India, is upto 10 August 2012. An election to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of office of the outgoing Vice-President will need to be completed before the expiration of his term.

The EC further added that the law provides that the notification for election shall be issued on, or as soon as conveniently may be after, the sixtieth day before the expiry of term of the office of the outgoing Vice-President.

The Vice-President is elected by the members of the Electoral College consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. The nominated Members of both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha are also eligible to be included in the Electoral College and, therefore, they are entitled to participate in the election.

The Electoral College for the present election of the Vice-President consists of the following members:

a) Rajya Sabha: Elected = 233 , Nominated =12

b) Lok Sabha: Elected = 543, Nominated = 2

TOTAL = 790

The Election Commission, in consultation with the Central Government, has decided to appoint the Secretary General to the Lok Sabha as the Returning Officer for the election. The Commission has also decided to appoint Assistant Returning Officer from amongst the officers of the Lok Sabha Secretariat to assist the Returning Officer.

The Election Commission of India has fixed the following programme for the election to fill the office of the Vice-President of India:

• Issue of Election Commission's notification calling the election: 06-07-2012 (Friday)

• Last date of making nominations: 20-07-2012 (Friday)

• Date for the Scrutiny of nominations: 21-07-2012 (Saturday)

• Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures: 23-07-2012 (Monday)

• Date on which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken: 07-08-2012 (Tuesday)

• Hours of poll: 10.00 A.M. to 5.00 P.M.

• Date on which counting, if required, shall be taken: 07-08-2012 (Tuesday) At 6.00 P.M.