US President Donald Trump (Photo | AP)
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‘Every voter had photo ID’: Trump cites India to push SAVE America Act

Trump said India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar questioned how US elections could be held without valid photo ID.

TNIE online desk

US President Donald Trump has cited India's voter identification system and low use of postal ballots to renew his call for the passage of the SAVE America Act, which would introduce stricter voting requirements in the United States.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had recently questioned how elections could be conducted in the US without valid photo identification.

Trump claimed that 646 million people voted in India's last general election, with less than one per cent voting by post, and that every voter was required to have a valid photo identity document.

He used the comparison to argue in favour of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, introduce a nationwide voter ID requirement and significantly restrict voting by mail.

Trump has repeatedly backed the legislation, arguing that it would help prevent electoral fraud.

However, the bill faces opposition from Democrats as well as divisions among Republicans. The US Senate adjourned for a five-week recess earlier this month without taking concrete steps towards its passage.

(With inputs from PTI)

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