WASHINGTON : US President Donald Trump has praised India’s voter ID card system and hailed it as a model for stricter US election rules. He cited India’s electoral system as an example of election security while renewing his call for stricter voter identification requirements in the United States.
In a social media post, Mr. Trump referred to a recent conversation with India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He said Mr. Kumar had questioned how elections could be held in the United States without a mandatory valid photo identity document. Mr. Trump used the remarks to reiterate his demand that the US Congress pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility-SAVE America Act.
The proposed legislation seeks to introduce stricter requirements for voting in federal elections. It would require voters to provide documentary proof of US citizenship as well as valid government-issued photo identification while registering for federal elections. The White House has described the legislation as a measure to ensure that only US citizens participate in American elections.
The US administration has also compared its electoral procedures with those followed in countries such as India and Brazil. It said India and Brazil link voter identification with biometric databases, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship.
Mr. Trump also highlighted the scale of India’s general elections, saying around 642 million people voted in the country’s most recent general election. He noted that India requires voters to produce valid photo identification, while voting by mail accounts for less than one per cent of the electorate.
The SAVE America Act was introduced in the US Congress on January 29. It includes provisions for documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration, photo identification at polling stations and tighter restrictions on absentee voting.
What is the SAVE America Act?:
The SAVE America Act, introduced in Congress on January 29, would require people to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. It also proposes nationwide voter identification requirements.
The legislation would further restrict voting by mail, allowing exceptions in cases involving illness, disability, military service or travel. It would also direct states to remove non-citizens from voter rolls.
MEA reaction after Trump’s praise:
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said the “credibility and robustness” of India’s election system are well established globally, after US President Donald Trump cited India’s electoral process while pushing for stricter voter identification rules in the United States.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made the remarks when asked about Trump’s comments during the ministry’s weekly press briefing.
“I have no specific comment to make on the remarks. I can say, however, that the credibility and robustness of India’s election machinery are well-established facts globally,” Jaiswal said.
Trump had referred to India’s electoral system and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar while renewing his demand for mandatory photo identification for voters in the US.
US Ambassador backs Trump’s stand:
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also backed Trump’s push for nationwide voter identification requirements.
In a post on X, Gor cited India’s 2024 general election as an example of voter authentication, saying, “President Donald J. Trump is absolutely correct! 646 MILLION voters, every single one required an ID in India’s last election. Congress should pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT!”
Trump and his administration have argued that the legislation is needed to prevent electoral fraud and ensure that only US citizens participate in federal elections.
What is the SAVE America Act?:
The SAVE America Act, introduced in Congress on January 29, would require people to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. It also proposes nationwide voter identification requirements.
The legislation would further restrict voting by mail, allowing exceptions in cases involving illness, disability, military service or travel. It would also direct states to remove non-citizens from voter rolls.
