In the Rashtrapati election, ordinary citizens do not vote. The President is chosen by an electoral college made up of elected MPs and elected MLAs. This is laid down in Article 54 of the Constitution.
Who votes in the Rashtrapati election
| Elector | Number in 2022 | Value of each vote (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Elected members of the Lok Sabha | 543 | 700 |
| Elected members of the Rajya Sabha | 233 | 700 |
| Elected MLAs of all state assemblies | 4,033 in total | Varies by state: 7 to 208 |
| Elected MLAs of Delhi and Puducherry |
Delhi and Puducherry MLAs were added to the electoral college by the 70th Constitutional Amendment in 1992.
Who does not vote
- The general public. There is no polling booth for citizens in this election.
- Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha (the 12 members nominated by the President).
- Members of legislative councils (MLCs) in states that have an upper house.
- Nominated members of state assemblies.
- MLAs of a dissolved assembly. If an assembly stands dissolved on polling day, its members cannot vote, and the election still goes ahead.
Note the difference: in the Vice-President election, nominated MPs do vote and MLAs do not. The two electoral colleges are not the same.
Why MPs and MLAs, and not the people?
The Constituent Assembly chose an indirect election for two reasons. India has a parliamentary system in which real executive power lies with the Prime Minister and Cabinet, so a directly elected President could become a rival power centre. And a nationwide direct election for a largely constitutional office would be enormously costly. Electing through MPs and MLAs gives both the Union and the states a say.
Is every vote equal?
No. Each MLA's vote is weighted by the population of the state, using the 1971 census, and each MP's vote is set so that all MPs together equal all MLAs together.
| State | Value of one MLA's vote |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 208 |
| Tamil Nadu | 176 |
| Jharkhand | 176 |
| Maharashtra | 175 |
| Bihar | 173 |
| Punjab | 116 |
| Uttarakhand | 64 |
| Goa | 20 |
| Manipur | 18 |
| Sikkim | 7 |
With 403 MLAs at 208 each, Uttar Pradesh alone contributes 83,824 to the college — more than any other state. That is why the UP assembly election of early 2027 has a direct bearing on the Presidential vote a few months later.
How electors cast their vote
- MPs vote at Parliament House in New Delhi; MLAs vote in their state capital. An elector can vote elsewhere only with the Election Commission's prior permission.
- The ballot is secret. Showing a marked ballot to anyone makes it invalid.
- Electors rank candidates by preference instead of stamping one name.
- Parties cannot issue a whip. Each elector is legally free to vote as they choose.
- There is no NOTA option.
The full sequence from notification to oath is in our guide to the Rashtrapati election process, and the 2027 timeline is in Rashtrapati election kab hai.
Frequently asked questions
Rashtrapati election me vote kaun deta hai?
Elected members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and elected MLAs of all states, Delhi and Puducherry.
Can the general public vote for the President of India?
No. The President is elected indirectly; citizens take part only through the MPs and MLAs they have elected.
Do nominated MPs vote in the Presidential election?
No. Only elected members vote. Nominated MPs can vote in the Vice-President election but not the President's.
Do MLCs vote in the Rashtrapati election?
No. Members of state legislative councils are not part of the electoral college.
Sources: Constitution of India (Articles 54, 55 and 71), Election Commission of India handbook and vote-value tables for the 2022 Presidential election.