MEA defends India’s election credibility after Trump’s voter ID praise

US President Donald Trump has praised India's voter identification system, citing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's reported question to the US administration: 'How can you have elections in the US without a valid photo ID?' In a post on Truth Social, Trump noted India's last general election had 646 million voters, less than 1 per cent voted by mail, and every voter needed a valid photo ID. He used this to push for the SAVE America Act, a Republican bill requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration and stricter ID at polling stations.

The Ministry of External Affairs gave a measured response. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: 'I have no specific comment to make on the remarks. I can say, however, that the credibility and robustness of India's election machinery are well-established facts globally.' US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor echoed Trump, saying the US should have a voter ID requirement and that it is not a partisan issue.

The SAVE America Act passed the House but has repeatedly failed in the Senate. Critics argue non-citizen voting is already illegal and the bill could disenfranchise eligible voters. Al Jazeera reports that India's opposition, including Rahul Gandhi, has alleged fraud in the 2024 election, questioning the independence of the Election Commission under PM Modi.