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

US President Donald Trump has renewed his push for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, citing India's voter identification system as an example. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar asked his administration how US elections can be held without a valid photo ID. Trump noted that India's last general election had 646 million voters, less than one per cent voted by mail, and every voter had a valid photo identity document.

The SAVE America Act would require proof of citizenship for voter registration, impose a nationwide voter ID requirement, and limit mail-in voting. The White House fact sheet compares the US system, which relies on self-attestation of citizenship, with India and Brazil, which link voter ID to a biometric database. The bill also includes provisions to bar transgender women from women's sports and ban gender-transition surgeries for minors.

The legislation faces division in Congress. The US Senate adjourned for a five-week recess earlier this month without taking concrete steps toward passage.