US President Donald Trump has once again urged Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, citing India’s election system and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as he renewed his demand for mandatory photo identification for voters in the United States.
In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump referred to a recent interaction involving Kumar and claimed that India’s election system demonstrated the need for stricter voter identification requirements in the US.
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Trump highlighted India’s most recent general election, saying it involved around 646 million voters and that less than 1 per cent cast their ballots by mail. He argued that voters in India were required to present valid photo identification and said the US should adopt similar measures.
“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 while calling on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act.
Gyanesh Kumar Meets US Ambassador
Trump’s comments came about a week after CEC Gyanesh Kumar met US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the two countries in election management and enhancing training programmes for election officials.
Gor also backed Trump’s argument in a post on X on Tuesday, stating that India’s large electorate had been required to use identification during the country’s previous election and supporting the US President’s call for Congress to pass the proposed legislation.
What Is The SAVE America Act?
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, commonly known as the SAVE America Act, seeks to introduce stricter requirements for voter registration and voting in the US.
Under the proposed legislation, individuals would be required to provide documentary proof of US citizenship when registering to vote, while voters would also need to present photo identification at polling stations.
The legislation has emerged as a major priority for the Trump administration. Although it cleared the House of Representatives earlier this year, the bill has repeatedly faced resistance in the Senate.
Supporters of the measure argue that stronger identification and citizenship verification requirements would improve election security and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
Critics Raise Access Concerns
The proposed law has also attracted criticism from opponents, who argue that non-citizens are already barred from voting in federal elections under existing US law. Critics further contend that requiring additional documentation could create barriers for eligible voters who do not possess the necessary identity or citizenship documents.
The Bipartisan Policy Center estimates that about 12 per cent of registered US voters do not have commonly required documents such as a birth certificate or valid passport.
The organisation has also raised concerns about the administrative burden involved in verifying voter documents, arguing that election authorities may require additional resources to implement such a system.
The debate over voter identification has remained politically divisive in the United States, with supporters framing the issue as one of election integrity and opponents warning that stricter requirements could disproportionately affect otherwise eligible voters.
Trump’s latest remarks have brought India’s electoral practices into the US debate once again, as his administration continues to push for passage of the SAVE America Act.
(Inputs from Hindustan Times)
Edited by: Moonmoon Borah
