New Delhi, India | July 29, 2025: The Election Commission of India (ECI) today released a comprehensive booklet titled ‘Election to the Office of Vice-President of India, 2025.’ The initiative aims to enhance public awareness and understanding of the intricacies involved in the upcoming Vice-Presidential Elections.
According to the ECI, the booklet is designed to elucidate all notable aspects of this significant election in a simple and accessible manner. A key feature of the publication is the inclusion of brief notes on all 16 past Vice-Presidential Elections held in India, spanning from 1952 to 2022.
The ECI highlighted the constitutional mandate for holding the election: “Under the provisions of Article 68(2) of the Constitution, an election to fill a vacancy in the office of the Vice-President, occurring by reason of his/her death, resignation or removal or otherwise shall be held as soon as possible after the occurrence of the vacancy, and the person elected to fill the vacancy shall, subject to the provisions of Article 67, be entitled to hold office for the full term of five years from the date on which he/she enters upon his/her office.”
The election process for the Vice-President’s office is primarily governed by The Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections Act, 1952, and its accompanying rules, The Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections Rules, 1974.
The Commission underscored that the Vice-Presidential Election differs significantly from general elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. These differences extend to the composition of the Electoral College, the eligibility criteria for candidates, the unique system of voting (proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote), the method of counting votes, and the specific legal provisions governing the election.
The new booklet broadly covers these critical aspects, including:
- Constitutional provisions related to the Vice-Presidential Election.
- The composition of the Electoral College, which comprises members of both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated members).
- Eligibility conditions for candidates, such as being a citizen of India, at least 35 years of age, and qualified for election to the Rajya Sabha, without holding any office of profit.
- Important provisions regarding candidature, including the requirement of at least 20 proposers and 20 seconders from the Electoral College for a nomination.
- The process of framing the Election Schedule.
- Appointment of the Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officers.
- Fixing of the place of poll (typically in Parliament House, New Delhi).
- The system of voting and the method of counting of votes.
- Provisions regarding disputes over the election.
With the Vice-Presidential election due in 2025, following the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21 citing health reasons, the ECI has already begun preparatory activities. The Rajya Sabha Secretary General, P.C. Mody, has been appointed as the Returning Officer for the poll, with Ms. Garima Jain and Shri Vijay Kumar appointed as Assistant Returning Officers. The ECI’s announcement of the election schedule is expected “as soon as possible.”