Presidential Polls on July 19: Election Commission

New Delhi, June 13: The Election Commission today announced that the notification for the 13th Presidential election will be issued on June 16 and polling, if required, would be held on July 19.

Briefing newspersons here, Chief Election Commissioner N.Gopalaswamisaid a decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the fullcommission, attended by both Election Commissioners Navin B Chawla andS Y Qureshi.

Mr Gopalaswami said the last date of filing nominations was fixed for June 30 and the date for scrutiny of nominations was July 2.

While the last date of withdrawal of candidates was July 4, the date of polling if required was fixed for July 19, Mr Gopalaswami said, adding the counting, if required, would be taken up on July 21.

The President is elected by members of the electoral college, which consists of the elected members of both the Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of all states, including the National Capital--Delhi and the Union Territory--Puducherry.

Mr Gopalaswami made it clear that the nominated members of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha or the Legislative Assemblies of the states were not eligible for inclusion in the electoral college and therefore, not entitled to participate in the election.

Mr Gopalaswami said the term of President A P J Abdul Kalam would end on July 24 and his successor ought to be elected by then. Citing the law, the CEC said, the notification for the election should be issued on or before 60 days before the term of the outgoing President expires.

As per the constitution, the election shall be held in accordance with the system of Proportional Representation by means of a single transferable vote and voting shall be done by a secret ballot, he said.

He said the entire election process will be through ballot papers as Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were not equipped with the system of a single transferable vote system.

Mr Gopalaswami announced that the Commission in consultation with the Centre has decided to appoint the Secretary General of Lok Sabha as the Returning Officer (RO) for the election.

The Commission has also decided to appoint Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) in all state capitals for making arrangements for the transportation of ballot boxes and other important documents to and from the Election Commission.

''For meeting any eventuality in case the ARO is not available, a second ARO is also being appointed,'' he added.

The CEC said the nomination paper must be delivered to the RO at New Delhi at the specified place through a public notice either by the candidate or by any of his proposers or seconders between 1100 to 1500 hrs.

Mr Gopalaswami said the nomination paper has to be subscribed by at least 50 proposers and as many seconders. ''An elector can subscribe to only one nomination paper of a candidate as a proposer or seconder. The security deposit for the election is Rs 15,000, which is required to be made along with the nomination paper,'' he added.

The CEC said the list of electoral college members, mantained by the Commission for the election, was available in English as well as in Hindi for sale. He said the Commission has decided to appoint senior officers of the Central government as its observers at each polling booth.

Mr Gopalaswami said Members of Parliament usually cast their votes at New Delhi and members of all respective state Legislative Assemblies at the concerned state's capital. However, on account of any exigency, the MPs could vote in any of the polling stations in the state capitals. Similarly, any MLA, who would wish to vote at New Delhi, could also do so.

''For this purpose, the electors have to approach the RO and AROs through a prescribed format available to reach the Election Commission at least 10 days prior to the polling date.

UNI