Part V - The Union • Article

Article 55 Simplified: Manner of election of President

Article 55 ensures that every State has a fair say in the Presidential election based on its population. It uses a complex formula to give 'value' to the votes of MPs and MLAs, ensuring balance between different states and between the States and the Union.

Official Text

(1) As far as practicable, there shall be uniformity in the scale of representation of the different States at the election of the President. (2) For the purpose of securing such uniformity among the States inter se as well as parity between the States as a whole and the Union, the number of votes which each elected member of Parliament and of the Legislative Assembly of each State is entitled to cast at such election shall be determined in the following manner:- (a) every elected member of the Legislative Assembly of a State shall have as many votes as there are multiples of one thousand in the quotient obtained by dividing the population of the State by the total number of the elected members of the Assembly; (b) if, after taking the said multiples of one thousand, the remainder is not less than five hundred, then the vote of each member referred to in sub-clause (a) shall be further increased by one; (c) each elected member of either House of Parliament shall have such number of votes as may be obtained by dividing the total number of votes assigned to the members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States under sub-clauses (a) and (b) by the total number of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament, fractions exceeding one-half being counted as one and other fractions being disregarded. (3) The election of the President shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot. [Explanation.-In this article, the expression “population” means the population as ascertained at the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published: Provided that the reference in this Explanation to the last preceding census of which the relevant figures have been published shall, until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year [2026] have been published, be construed as a reference to the 1971 census.]

Simple Meaning

Explain Like Ten

Because states have different numbers of people, we use a special math formula so that every MLA's vote matches the number of people they represent. The votes are cast in secret, and voters rank their choices (1st choice, 2nd choice) instead of just picking one.

Student Mode

Details the Proportional Representation by means of Single Transferable Vote (PR-STV) system. It ensures two principles: uniformity in the scale of representation of different states (MLA vote value = State Population / (Total Elected MLAs * 1000)), and parity between the states as a whole and the Union (MP vote value = Total State MLA Votes / Total Elected MPs).

Example

An MLA from a high-population state like Uttar Pradesh has a different 'vote value' than an MLA from Sikkim, ensuring that the number of people they represent is factored in.

Key Takeaway

The election process is designed to be mathematically fair and representative of India's vast population.

FAQs

How is the vote value of an MLA calculated?

MLA vote value is calculated by dividing the state's population (currently fixed at the 1971 census) by the total number of elected MLAs, and dividing the result by 1,000.

What voting system is used for the Presidential election?

It is the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV) using a secret ballot.

Why is the 1971 census still used for calculating population?

To encourage family planning. Under the 84th Amendment, the 1971 census population figures will be used until the first census figures after 2026 are published, ensuring states that successfully control their population are not penalized with fewer votes.

Quiz

What voting system is used to elect the President of India?

Answer: Proportional Representation by Single Transferable Vote

Until when is the 1971 census population data locked for Presidential elections?

Answer: Until the first census after 2026 is published

What is the formula for the vote value of an MP?

Answer: Total vote value of all MLAs divided by total elected MPs