Election to the Office of Vice-President of India

Table of Contents

Vice-President Election 2022- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 2: Indian Constitution- Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.

Recently, the Election Commission issued notification for the August 6 poll to elect the next vice president of India, setting in motion the process of filing nomination papers by candidates.

The Vice-President shall not be a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State.
- If a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State be elected Vice-President, he shall be deemed to have vacated his seat in that House on the date on which he enters upon his office as Vice-President.
No person shall be eligible for election as Vice-President unless he –
- is a citizen of India;
- has completed the age of thirty-five years; and
- is qualified for election as a member of the Council of States.
A person shall not be eligible for election as Vice-President if he holds any office of profit under-
- The Government of India or
- The Government of any State or
- Any local or other authority subject to the control of any of the said Governments.
Note: For the purposes of this article, a person shall not be deemed to hold any office of profit by reason only that he is the President or Vice-President of the Union or the Governor of any State or is a Minister either for the Union or for any State.

Constitutional Provisions: Article 66 says that the Vice-President shall be elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament.
- The Vice-President shall not be a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State.
Eligible Voters: The Vice-President shall be elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament.
- Note: Both elected and nominated members of the parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) participates in the election of Vice-president.
Vote Value: Since all the electors for the Vice-president election are members of Parliament, the value of the vote of each MP would be the same – one.
Election Method: The election of the Vice-President of India is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.
- The voting in the Election of the Vice-President of India shall be by secret ballot.
Electors and Proposers: The nomination paper of a candidate has to be subscribed by at least 20 electors as proposers and by at least 20 other electors as seconders.
- An elector can subscribe to only one nomination paper of a candidate as either a proposer or a seconder.
Security Deposits: A candidate can file a maximum of four nomination papers. The security deposit for the election is ₹15,000.

Vice Presidents of India [Article 63 to Article 71]
Article 63	There shall be a Vice President of India
Article 64	The Vice-President shall be ex-officio Chairman of the Council of States and shall not hold any other office of profit
Article 65	The Vice-President to act as President or to discharge his functions during casual vacancies in the office, or during the absence, of President
Article 66	The Vice-President shall be elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament. The Vice-President shall not be a member of either House of Parliament or of a House of the Legislature of any State.
Article 67	The Vice-President shall hold office for a term of five years from the date of his appointment.
Article 68	An election to fill a vacancy created because of the completion of the term of office of Vice-President shall be completed before the expiry of the term. The election to fill a vacancy created because of the death, resignation or removal of Vice-President shall be held as soon as possible.
Article 69	Every Vice-President shall make an Oath or Affirmation on entering upon his office before the President, or some person appointed in that behalf by him
Article 70	Discharge of President’s functions in other contingencies
Article 71	Matters relating to, or connected with, the election of a president or vice-president