New Delhi: India will elect its next Vice President on **September 9**, the Election Commission announced on **Friday**. The poll was triggered by the resignation of **Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar** on **July 21**.
The official notification for the election will be issued on **August 7**. Candidates can file their nominations until **August 21**.
If voting is needed, it will be held in **Room F-101, Vasudha**, on the first floor of the Parliament building. Polling will take place from **10 am to 5 pm**. The results will be declared **the same day**.
The **Rajya Sabha Secretary General** has been appointed as the **Returning Officer**. Two officials from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat will act as **Assistant Returning Officers**.
The **Electoral College** includes **543 Lok Sabha members**, **233 elected Rajya Sabha members**, and **12 nominated Rajya Sabha members**. With **five vacancies in the Rajya Sabha** and **one in the Lok Sabha**, the effective strength is **782**. To win, a candidate needs **at least 391 votes**.
The **BJP-led NDA** is expected to have a clear advantage. It holds **293 members in the Lok Sabha** and **129 in the Rajya Sabha**, assuming nominated members support the alliance. This gives the NDA **422 votes**, well above the majority mark.
Only an **Indian citizen aged 35 or above**, and **qualified to be a Rajya Sabha member**, is eligible to contest. Government employees holding an office of profit are disqualified.
The election will follow the **proportional representation system** using the **single transferable vote**. Voting will be done through a **secret ballot**, where electors mark their preferences.
The Vice President is the **second highest constitutional authority** in India and serves a **five-year term**. However, they may remain in office beyond the term until a successor takes charge.