US President Donald Trump has pointed to India’s electoral system while renewing his demand for stricter voter identification requirements in American elections.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump referred to a recent conversation involving India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who, according to Trump, questioned how elections in the United States can be conducted without requiring voters to present a valid photo identification document.
Trump used India’s election system as an example while urging Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, legislation that seeks to introduce stricter voter eligibility and identification requirements across the US.
Trump Highlights India’s Election System
Trump said India’s most recent general election involved around 646 million voters, with less than one per cent casting their ballots by mail. He also highlighted the use of photo identification for voters.
“Earlier this month, India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, asked our Administration, How can you have Elections in the U.S. without a valid Photo ID?” Trump wrote while making his case for the proposed legislation.
India’s electoral system uses voter identification documents as part of the voting process, while the US has a more varied system in which identification requirements differ across states.
What Is the SAVE America Act?
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act was introduced in Congress with the stated aim of ensuring that only US citizens can participate in federal elections.
The proposed legislation would require proof of citizenship when registering to vote and introduce a nationwide photo-ID requirement. It would also place significant restrictions on voting by mail, with exceptions proposed for circumstances such as illness, disability, military service or travel.
The White House has described the legislation as a measure intended to strengthen election integrity and prevent non-citizens from participating in federal elections.
However, the bill has faced political divisions in Congress, with lawmakers disagreeing over its proposed requirements and potential impact on voting access. The US Senate had also adjourned for a five-week recess earlier this month without taking concrete action on the legislation.
US Ambassador Also Praises India’s Model
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also backed Trump’s argument, highlighting India’s large-scale election process and voter identification system.
Gor said that hundreds of millions of Indian voters were required to provide identification during the country’s last general election and urged Congress to pass the SAVE America Act.
The Trump administration has previously compared election procedures in the US with those of countries including India and Brazil, arguing that these nations have stronger voter-identification mechanisms.
Trump’s latest remarks have once again brought India’s electoral system into the US debate over voter identification, citizenship verification and election security.
