Trump cites India's voter ID system in renewed push for SAVE Act

U.S. President Donald Trump has pointed to India's election system, highlighting its strict voter identification requirements, as an example for America to follow. Trump, who is advocating for the passage of the SAVE America Act, a more stringent voter registration law, stated that India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, questioned his administration about holding elections without valid photo IDs.

In a social media post, Trump quoted Kumar as asking, "How can you have Elections in the US without a valid Photo ID?" He emphasized that India's recent election involved over 646 million voters, with less than 1% voting by mail, and stressed that every voter required a valid photo identity document. Trump concluded by urging Congress to pass the SAVE America Act immediately.

This statement follows a meeting between CEC Gyanesh Kumar and U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, where they agreed to enhance collaboration on election management. The Trump administration has prioritized the SAVE America Act, which mandates voters to present documentary proof of citizenship during registration and a photo ID at the polls. While the act passed the House of Representatives, it has stalled in the Senate.

The push for stricter voter ID laws in the U.S. remains controversial. Supporters argue these measures are crucial for election integrity, especially amid debates about recent election legitimacy. Critics, however, contend that non-citizens are already barred from voting and that many registered voters lack the necessary documentation. The Bipartisan Policy Center notes that 12% of registered U.S. voters do not possess common documents like birth certificates or passports, and verifying such documents would strain resources. The center also points to Kansas, where stricter voter ID laws reportedly prevented around 31,000 eligible citizens from registering.

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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? India's last Election had 646,000,000 Voters! Less than 1 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!