Trump Cites India’s Voter ID Model to Push for US SAVE America Act

In a Truth Social post, Trump referenced a recent exchange with India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who questioned how U.S. elections could be held without mandatory photo identification. Trump also highlighted India's 2024 Lok Sabha election, where about 646 million people voted, to argue that large-scale voter ID requirements are feasible.

U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor echoed Trump's stance on X, writing, "646 MILLION voters, every single one required an ID in India's last election," and urged Congress to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, known as the SAVE America Act.

The proposed legislation would mandate documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration, require photo identification at polling places, and tighten absentee voting rules. The bill has already passed the House but faces hurdles in the Senate.

Trump's comments follow a meeting last week between Kumar and Gor, where the two agreed to collaborate on election management and staff training, according to the U.S. Embassy in India. The administration has made the SAVE America Act a major priority, and Trump's reference to India adds an international angle to the U.S. debate over voter ID laws.