US President Donald Trump has pointed to India’s voter ID system and its limited reliance on postal ballots to bolster his push for the SAVE America Act, a proposal that would impose tighter voting rules in the United States.
In a Truth Social post, Trump claimed that India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, had recently raised doubts about how U.S. elections can be held without requiring valid photo ID.
Trump stated that 646 million people participated in India’s most recent general election, that fewer than one per cent cast postal ballots, and that every voter was obliged to present a valid photo identification document.
Trump mentioned that India’s chief election commissioner met with members of his administration earlier this month and asked how elections in the United States are conducted without requiring a valid photo identification card.
The US president delivered these comments to rally backing for the SAVE America Act, a proposal that would obligate Americans to present proof of citizenship when registering to vote, establish a nationwide voter ID mandate, and sharply restrict mail-in voting.
He invoked the comparison to advocate for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which would mandate proof of citizenship for voter registration, establish a nationwide voter ID requirement, and substantially limit mail-in voting.
Trump has consistently supported the bill, contending that it would help curb election fraud.
However, the bill is facing opposition from Democrats and divisions within the Republican Party. Earlier this month, the US Senate entered a five-week recess without taking any concrete steps to move the measure forward.