WASHINGTON: Pitching 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 absence of voter identification in American polls.
In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump noted that over 646 million people participated in the recent general elections in India, yet less than one per cent voted through postal ballots.
Trump said India’s chief election commissioner had spoken with officials from his administration earlier this month and questioned how US elections could be conducted without a valid photo identification card.
The US President made these remarks to drum up support for the SAVE America Act, which seeks to require Americans to provide 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 has been insisting on passing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, claiming the legislation would curb electoral fraud.
However, both Democrats and Republicans remain divided over the issue, and the US Senate adjourned for a five-week recess earlier this month without taking concrete steps toward passing it.
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, whereas the US relies on self-attestation by electors.
The bill also seeks to permanently ban men from competing in women’s sports and ban transgender reassignment surgeries for children.
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