India’s Presidential elections: All you need to know about the procedure

A list of frequently asked questions on India’s President and how the head of state is elected.

The upcoming presidential polls in July may turn out to be the closest electoral contest of the kind since 1969, when VV Giri faced off with Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy. This year, the election is expected to be held before July 24, when President Pranab Mukherjee’s term ends.

President Pranab Mukherjee’s term ends in July this year. (HT Photo)

The electoral college of the President comprises both MPs and MLAs, and each vote weighs in accordance with proportional representation. While all MP votes bear equal value, the weightage of MLA votes differs from state to state. MLAs from Uttar Pradesh carry the highest value while those from Sikkim have the least.

Here’s all that you may want to know about the presidential election process:

(Source: Election Commission of India website)