Art. 55 Part V: The Union

Manner of Election of President

Exact text — Constitution of India

(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 [by a specific mathematical formula based on state population and Assembly seats, and total Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha seats]... (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.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article sets the detailed, carefully calibrated mathematical formula ensuring rough parity between states (based on their population and Assembly size) and between the states collectively and the Union Parliament, using the single transferable vote system with secret ballot — a genuinely sophisticated electoral design to keep the process both federal-balanced and fair.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why an MLA from a larger state's vote is 'worth' more than an MLA from a smaller state in a presidential election — the formula deliberately weights votes to keep the process broadly proportional to each state's population, rather than treating every MLA's vote as numerically equal regardless of which state they represent.

Read alongside this one

Art. 54 — Election of President

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 55

Why is the value of an MLA's vote different from state to state?

The formula ties vote value to each state's population relative to its Assembly's total elected membership, ensuring more populous states carry proportionally more electoral weight, consistent with the broader principle of population-based representation.

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The text above reproduces Article 55 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.