India to Elect New Vice President on September 9, Announces Election Commission

— by vishal Sambyal

India will elect its next Vice President on September 9, 2025. Get key dates, eligibility criteria, voting process, and constitutional details as announced by the Election Commission.

New Delhi, August 1  — India will elect its next Vice President on September 9, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Thursday. The notification for the election will be issued on August 7, and nominations will close on August 21.

The election was necessitated after Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21, well before the scheduled end of his term in August 2027. As per Article 68(2) of the Indian Constitution, such a vacancy must be filled “as soon as possible.”

If a contest becomes necessary, polling will be held between 10 am and 5 pm in Room F-101, Vasudha, on the first floor of the Parliament building. Results will be declared the same day.

Key Eligibility Criteria for Vice Presidential Candidates

To contest the election, a candidate must:

  • Be a citizen of India
  • Be at least 35 years old
  • Be eligible for election to the Rajya Sabha
  • Not hold any office of profit under the Union or State governments, local or public authorities

Candidates must submit nomination papers signed by at least 20 proposers and 20 seconders, all of whom must be members of the electoral college. Each candidate may file up to four nominations, with a security deposit of ₹15,000.

The Electoral College

As per Article 66 of the Constitution, the Vice President is elected by an electoral college consisting of:

  • 233 elected and 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha
  • 543 elected members of the Lok Sabha

With five vacancies in the Rajya Sabha and one in the Lok Sabha, the current electoral college stands at 782 members.

How the Voting Works

Voting is conducted through the proportional representation system by means of the single transferable vote, as stipulated by Article 66(1). Voting is by secret ballot, and each voter must mark their first preference for the vote to be valid.

Importantly, political parties are not permitted to issue whips to their MPs in this election, ensuring a free and secret ballot.

Unlike presidential elections, where voting takes place across various state legislatures, Vice Presidential voting is conducted exclusively in Parliament House.

Constitutional and Legal Framework

The election is governed by:

  • Articles 64 to 68 of the Constitution of India
  • The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952
  • Rules framed under the Act

The Election Commission of India, under Article 324, is the sole authority responsible for conducting the election.

This election marks a pivotal moment as Parliament prepares to elect the second-highest constitutional authority of the nation.

Disclaimer:This article is for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available announcements from the Election Commission of India as of August 1, 2025. Readers are advised to refer to official sources for the most up-to-date and authoritative information.