Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - US President Donald Trump has pointed to India’s voter-identification system while renewing his support for the SAVE America Act. He said more than 646 million people participated in India’s recent general election, while fewer than 1% voted through postal ballots.

Trump presented India’s election system as an example of how voter identification and in-person voting can be managed on a large scale. The SAVE America Act seeks stricter voting rules in the United States, including proof of citizenship for voter registration and stronger identification requirements.
India’s 2024 general election recorded more than 646 million votes. Postal ballots accounted for less than 1% of the total, as most voters cast their ballots in person at polling stations.

However, India’s system does not rely only on voter cards. A person must also appear on the electoral roll and can use other approved identity documents in addition to the Election Photo Identity Card. Postal voting is generally limited to specific categories, such as service personnel, election officials, some elderly voters and persons with disabilities. Trump’s comparison comes amid an ongoing political debate in the United States over election security, voter identification and voting by mail. Supporters of the proposed law say stricter rules would prevent fraud, while critics argue that additional requirements could make voting more difficult for eligible citizens.

Trump’s reference to India is aimed at strengthening his case for the SAVE America Act. While both countries use voter identification, their election laws, postal-ballot rules and registration systems are different, making a direct comparison more complicated than the figures alone suggest.