Washington: US President Donald Trump has once again used India’s election system to strengthen his argument for tougher voter identification rules in the United States, urging lawmakers to pass the proposed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump referred to remarks reportedly made by India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during a recent interaction with US officials. Trump said Kumar had questioned why voters in the United States can participate in elections without universally presenting a government-issued photo identification document.
Trump used the comparison to argue that stronger voter authentication measures are needed in American 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.
He also highlighted the scale of India's 2024 general election, pointing to the hundreds of millions of voters who participated and India's extensive use of voter identification.
"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," Trump said.
He then called on lawmakers to move ahead with the proposed legislation.
"We need to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, now," Trump added.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also supported Trump's comments, presenting India's election process as an example of large-scale voter authentication.
In a post on X, Gor wrote: "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!"
His remarks underline the Trump administration's growing use of India's electoral system as a reference point in its campaign for stricter voter identification requirements in the US.
The SAVE America Act is aimed at tightening eligibility requirements for voting in federal elections.
The legislation would require people registering to vote to provide proof of US citizenship, while also introducing nationwide voter identification requirements.
The proposal would further restrict voting by mail, with exceptions proposed for circumstances such as illness, disability, military service and travel.
The legislation also seeks to require states to take steps to remove non-citizens from federal voter registration rolls.
The White House has described the proposal as a measure intended to ensure that only American citizens participate in federal elections.
"American citizens -- and only American citizens -- should decide American elections," the White House has said while promoting the bill.
The proposal has generated political disagreement in Washington, with Democrats strongly opposing several of its provisions. There has also been division among lawmakers over the scope and implementation of the proposed requirements.
Supporters argue that voter identification and citizenship verification would strengthen confidence in the electoral system and prevent illegal voting.
Critics, however, have raised concerns that stricter documentation requirements could create additional barriers for eligible voters, particularly those who may have difficulty obtaining or presenting specific forms of identification.
The debate has become part of a broader political argument in the US over election security, voter access and the role of federal authorities in setting election rules.
Trump's latest comments have brought India's election infrastructure into the American political conversation.
India conducts elections on a scale unmatched by most democracies, with hundreds of millions of voters participating across a geographically and socially diverse country. Voter identification is a central component of the country's electoral process.
The White House has also drawn comparisons between India and other countries while making the case for stronger voter verification in the US.
"India and Brazil tie voter ID to a biometric database, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship," the White House said.
Trump's reference to India's election system is therefore not merely a comparison of voting practices. It has become part of his broader political argument that the US should adopt stricter measures to establish voter eligibility and strengthen election security.
The proposed SAVE America Act now remains at the centre of that debate as the administration continues to push Congress for action.