- Trump praised India's robust election system and voter ID.
- CEC Gyanesh Kumar questioned US lack of photo ID.
- Trump pushes SAVE America Act for stricter US voting.
Making a strong case for stricter electoral laws in the US, President Donald Trump praised the Indian election system and recalled Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar questioning the lack of voter identification in American polls. In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said over 646 million people participated in the recent general elections in India, and yet less than one per cent voted through postal ballots.
Why did Trump name Gyanesh Kumar in his latest social post?
Trump said India's chief election commissioner had spoken with officials from his administration earlier this month, and asked how US elections can be held without a valid photo identification card.
The US president made these remarks to drum up support for the SAVE America Act, which would require Americans to show proof of citizenship to register to vote, impose a nationwide voter identification requirement and severely limit voting by mail. "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.
"India''s last Election had 646,000,000 Voters! Less than one per cent voted by mail, and every single Voter had to have a VALID Photo Identity Document." "We need to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, now," he asserted.
Trump's 'SAVE America' push
Trump has been insisting on passing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, claiming the move would curb electoral fraud. However, both Democrats and Republicans are divided over the issue, and the US Senate adjourned for a five-week recess earlier this month without any concrete steps for its passing.
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A fact sheet on the SAVE America Act on the White House website also noted that India and Brazil have already linked voter identity cards to a biometric database, while the US relies on self-attestation by electors.
How do American voters exercise their democratic right without a valid photo ID?
Each state sets its own voter ID rules. And most require voters to bring identification to vote in person. States' voter ID laws determine whether a person will need to show an ID and, if so, what kind.
A voter's state may require them to show a photo ID like a driver's license, State ID or a passport.
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They may ask to see another form of identification like a birth certificate or Social Security card. If a person is a registered voter and has a voter registration card, it is not required to bring it during voting. But a person can still use it as a form of identification.
(With inputs from agency)