How does the President of India get elected?

The President of India is not elected directly by the people. Instead, the country's highest constitutional office is filled through an Electoral College comprising elected Members of Parliament (MPs) and elected Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) from across the states and Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry.

However, not every vote carries the same value. While each MP's vote has an equal value, the value of an MLA's vote varies from state to state, depending on the state's population and the strength of its legislative assembly. This system is designed to ensure a balance between the representation of the states and that of the Union Parliament.

The value of an MLA's vote is calculated using the state's population figures from the 1971 Census. For example, an MLA from a more populous state carries a higher vote value than an MLA from a smaller state. The value of MPs' votes is then determined in a manner that maintains parity between the total value of votes cast by MPs and MLAs.

The election is conducted through a system of proportional representation using a single transferable vote, with voting held by secret ballot. Voters rank candidates in order of preference rather than voting for just one candidate.

Although India has conducted several censuses since 1971, the Constitution currently mandates the use of the 1971 Census figures for calculating vote values. This arrangement will continue until the publication of population data from the first Census conducted after 2026.