How does India elect its President?

Who can vote, who can't vote and how will the polls take place?
Meghna Sen explains everything to know about the Presidential election.

As Pranab Mukherjee's term ends on July 24, the Election Commission has announced that voting to elect India's next President will be held on July 17, with counting on July 20, if needed.

Although no political parties have come up with the names of candidates, the balance of advantage is with the ruling National Democratic Alliance.

Who can vote

The electoral college comprises elected members of both Houses of Parliament and elected members of the legislative assemblies of all states, besides Delhi and Puducherry.

A total of 4,896 voters, comprising 4,120 members of legislative assemblies and 776 elected members of Parliament.

What India expects from its next President

Who cannot vote

Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies do not have the right to vote. Nor do members of the legislative councils.

Unlike the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in India, the Presidential election does not have an electronic voting system using EVMs.

The Election Commission will supply a special pen to all voters to mark their choice of candidate on ballot papers.

The elector has to mark preferences against the names of the candidates.

While marking of the first preference is compulsory for the ballot paper to be valid, other preferences are optional.

Polling will take place in Parliament House and on the premises of legislative assemblies.

The Constitution has expressly provided that the election shall be by secret ballot.

The procedure, laid down in the 1974 Rules, provides that after marking the vote, the elector is required to fold the ballot paper and insert it in the ballot box.