Trump praise puts India’s clean electoral rolls in global spotlight

President Donald Trump has praised India's election mechanism, citing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's remark questioning how the US conducts elections without valid photo ID. Trump's social media post has revived a divisive debate over election integrity in both countries. He is pushing for an exercise similar to India's Special Summary Revision (SIR) in the US, though America's federalised system resists a uniform approach.

In India, the SIR is meant to be conducted once every 20 years but critics say it is being rushed without transparency or adequate consultation. The expanded SAVE Act, passed in the US House in February, now awaits Senate approval. Both the proposed US law and India's SIR aim to require proof of citizenship for voter registration and photo ID for voting, but opponents in each country accuse ruling parties of selectively targeting social groups.

The editorial argues that clean electoral rolls and photo ID voting are elementary requirements, but the state must not weaponise them against those out of power. Trust and integrity must be restored in both democracies before they can lead a shared democratic agenda on election rules.