Vice President election to take place on August 5; polling for President on July 17

The election for the post of Vice President of India will take place on August 5, if necessary, announced the Election Commission on Thursday.

Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said notification for the election will be issued on July 4 and nominations can be submitted by July 18.

The scrutiny will take place on July 19 and the last date for withdrawing nomination is July 21, he said.

However, the voting and counting both will take place on August 5, 2017.

The presidential poll would be held on July 17.

The term of present incumbent Hamid Ansari, who has held the post for two consecutive terms, is coming to an end on August 10.

The electoral college which elects the Vice President, who is also the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, consists of elected and nominated members of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.

The total strength of the two Houses is 790, but there are some vacancies.

Meanwhile, the EC has also announced the date of election to the Rajya Sabha seat from Goa.

Congress' Shantaram Naik is retiring on July 28 and the election to the seat will take place on July 21. The counting of votes will take place the same evening.

Naik, officials in EC said, will be able to cast his vote for the July 17 Presidential poll.