The Election Commission issued a notification formally setting in the process for motion the July 19 presidential election.

With the issue of notification, the filing of nominations began from Saturday and go on till June 30. The scrutiny will take place on July two and the last date for withdrawal of nomination is July four.

Counting of votes is scheduled for July 21, three days before incumbent A P J Abdul Kalam demits office.      

The United Progressive Alliance-Left combine has announced the candidature of Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil as its nominee while Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat is expected to be fielded as an National Democratic Alliance-backed independent candidate.

Lok Sabha Secretary General P D T Achary has been appointed Returning Officer for the election.

776 Members of Parliament, including 543 from Lok Sabha, and 4,120 legislators from various states, including Delhi and Puducherry, constitute the electoral college whose total vote value comes to 10,98,882 votes.      

The ruling UPA alliance has got over 5.13 lakh votes while the strength of the opposition NDA is over 3.54 lakh votes and the combination of eight regional parties constituting the third front accounts for 1.05 lakh votes.

All presidential elections had so far witnessed a contest except in 1977 when Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy was elected unopposed. Only the first President Rajendra Prasad held the office twice -- in 1952 and 1957.       

Last time too, there was a contest when Kalam won with a thumping majority against the Left parties' joint candidate Lakshmi Sehgal.

The nominated members of Parliament and state assemblies are not eligible to vote.

While MPs can cast their votes in Delhi and legislators their respected state capitals, in special circumstances, MPs can vote in any state capital.

A nomination paper of a candidate for the election has to be proposed by at least 50 electors and seconded by an equal number. An elector can propose or second only one candidate.

The security deposit for the election is Rs 15,000, which is required to be paid along with the nomination papers.