If a Presidential election is necessitated, in case the Government and the Opposition fail to agree on a consensus candidate, it will be held on July 17 with July 20 to be the date of counting. President Pranab Mukherjee's term ends on July 24.
The process would begin with the issue of the notification on June 14 (Wednesday). last date for filing nominations is June 28 (Wednesday) and the scrutiny of the nominations will be held on June 29 (Thursday). The last date for withdrawal is July 1 (Saturday).
This is the first time that political parties would not be able to issue any 'whip' to any MPs and MlAs in the voting for the Presidential Elections. A special ink pen would be used for President Election. The pen will be given to the electors in the polling station by the designated official when the ballot paper is handed over.
Election will also be held on the same date for the post of Vice-President.
Outlining the process and rules of the electing the President, , Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said that the term of incumbent President Pranab Mukherjee would end on July 24. "As per Article 62 of the Constitution, an election to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of office of the outgoing President is required to be completed before the expiration of the term," Dr Zaidi said.
The voting will begin at 10 am on July 17 and will go on till 5 pm, he added. Zaidi said the counting of votes will begin at 11 am on July 20.
MPs have the highest value - 708 - for each vote, while the value of an MlA's vote depends on the population of the state.
The total value of votes of 776 MPs ( 543 MPs of lok Sabha and 233 of Rajya Sabha) would be 5,49,408 while the total value of votes of 4120 is 5,49,495. The total value of votes of 4896 electors that include (MlAs (4120) and MPs (776) would be 10,98,903.