Washington: US President Donald Trump has pointed to India’s electoral system while renewing his call for stricter voter identification requirements across the United States. Trump is seeking support for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, legislation that would introduce tougher citizenship verification and voter ID requirements for federal elections.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump referred to a recent interaction involving India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to Trump, Kumar questioned the US administration over the absence of a mandatory valid photo identification requirement for voters in American elections.
Trump used the comparison to argue that the United States should adopt stronger identification measures to address what he described as concerns over election integrity and potential electoral fraud.
He also highlighted India’s use of postal ballots, stating that fewer than one per cent of voters relied on postal voting during the country’s most recent general election. Trump further pointed to the use of voter identification documents as an example of how India verifies voters during elections.
“Earlier this month, India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, asked our Administration — How can you have Elections in the US without a valid Photo ID,” Trump wrote.
US Ambassador to India Supports Trump’s Proposal
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also expressed support for Trump’s proposal, citing India’s electoral system as an example of large-scale voter identification.
In a post on X, Gor said that India’s 2024 general election involved approximately 646 million voters, adding that voters were required to provide identification.
Gor wrote that Trump’s proposal was justified and urged the US Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, presenting India’s election system as an example of the importance of voter authentication.
What Is the SAVE America Act?
The SAVE America Act is a Republican-backed legislative proposal that seeks to strengthen citizenship verification and identification requirements for participation in US federal elections.
The legislation was introduced on January 29 and has become a point of political disagreement in Congress, with lawmakers divided over its provisions. The US Senate entered a five-week recess without reaching a significant agreement on the bill.
The proposed legislation would require individuals registering to vote in federal elections to provide documentation establishing both their identity and US citizenship.
Supporters of the measure argue that stronger verification procedures would help protect the integrity of federal elections and ensure that only eligible US citizens participate.
Proposed Changes to Voting Rules
Under the proposal described by the White House, voters would have to provide valid identification and proof of citizenship when registering for federal elections.
The legislation would also place tighter restrictions on voting by mail. Certain exceptions would be permitted, including circumstances involving illness, disability, military service or travel.
Another provision would direct states to review voter registration records and remove individuals who are not US citizens from voter rolls, subject to applicable legal requirements.
The White House has described the proposal as a measure intended to ensure that only American citizens participate in federal elections.
White House Draws Comparison With Other Countries
The Trump administration has also compared US election procedures with systems used in other countries.
According to the White House, countries such as India and Brazil use voter identification systems linked to biometric databases, while the US system relies more heavily on voter registration declarations and documentation requirements that vary by jurisdiction.
The administration argues that stronger identification and citizenship verification measures would bring greater consistency to US federal elections.
Trump’s latest comments have therefore placed India’s election infrastructure at the centre of the ongoing US debate over voter identification, citizenship verification and election security.
