NEW DELHI –The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday said that the election for India’s 17th Vice President will take place on September 9, 2025. This important election had to happen since current Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar unexpectedly resigned on July 21, saying health reasons were behind his choice.
Dhankhar wrote in his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, “To prioritize health care and follow medical advice, I hereby resign as Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution.” Article 67(a) of the Indian Constitution says that a Vice President can resign by submitting a letter to the President that is signed by them.
The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act of 1952 and the Constitution say that the ECI must fill any vacancy in the Office of the Vice President as quickly as feasible.
The Electoral College and the Election Schedule
The ECI’s press release says that the election will follow this comprehensive schedule:
Notice Date of Issue: August 9
The last day to file nominations is August 19.
Examination of Nominations: August 22
August 25 is the last day to withdraw your candidacy.
If necessary, polling will take place on September 9 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Members of both Houses of Parliament make up the electoral college for the Vice Presidential election. The overall number of members is 788, which includes 233 elected members and 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha and 543 elected members of the Lok Sabha. The electoral college now has 782 members, but there are currently five empty seats in the Rajya Sabha and one in the Lok Sabha.
If necessary, the voting will take place in Room No. F-101, Vasudha, on the first floor of the Parliament building in New Delhi. PC Mody, the Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha, has been named the Returning Officer (RO) for the election. He will be helped by two Assistant Returning Officers (AROs).
Strict Rules for Voting
The ECI has repeated tight rules for voting to make sure that the secret ballot method is fair. Voters must use a special pen that is provided at the voting place to mark their choices. The commission made it clear that “voting with any other pen will make the vote invalid at the time of counting.”
Also, political parties are not allowed to give their members a whip for this election. The ECI made it clear that showing the ballot to anyone at any time is a violation of secrecy or the wrong way to vote, and that the ballot will be canceled if this happens. The committee made it clear that “there is no idea of open voting in this election.”
As India is ready to choose its new Vice President, this election will be a big deal for the country’s democracy.