The Presidential poll process got rolling today with the issue of a notification by the Election Commission, paving the way for filing of nominations for the July 19 election.
According to the notification, the last date for making nominations is June 30 and the scrutiny of nominations will take place on July 2, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is July 4.
Polling for the President’s poll, if necessary, will take place on July 19 between 10 am and 5 pm, and counting on July 22. The term of the incumbent President, Ms Pratibha Patil, ends on July 24.
The Election Commission, through another notification, has appointed Rajya Sabha Secretary-General, Mr V. K. Agnihotri, as the Returning Officer for the Presidential Election, 2012, and Mr S. K. Ganguli, Joint Secretary, and Mr Deepak Goyal, Joint Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, as Assistant Returning Officers.
The nomination papers can be delivered by a candidate or any one of his proposers or seconders to the Returning Officer at his office in Parliament House between 11 am and 3 pm on any day (other than a public holiday) but not later than the June 30.
Each nomination paper should be accompanied by a certified copy of the entry relating to the candidate in the electoral roll for the Parliamentary constituency in which the candidate is registered as an elector. Each candidate has to deposit Rs 15,000 in cash at the time of filing of nominations.
The electoral college for the Presidential poll is 4,896, comprising 776 members of both Houses of Parliament and 4,120 members of the State legislative assemblies, including those of Delhi and Puducherry.
The total value of votes is 10,98,882, with that of MLAs being 5,49,474 and that of MPs being 5,49,408.
Nominated members of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and State assemblies are not entitled to vote.
Members of the Electoral College can vote according to their conscience and are not bound by any party whips. The voting is also by secret ballot.
There is also a provision for postal ballot for electors in preventive detention.
While the UPA has announced the candidature of Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, the NDA is yet to finalise its candidate.