Trump Backs Stricter US Voter ID Rules; Cites India Voter ID System, Renews Push for SAVE America Act

Trump Cites Trump Backs Stricter US Voter ID Rules; Cites India Voter ID System, Renews Push for SAVE America Act

WASHINGTON, August 18, 2026 [VoM News]: US President Donald Trump has again called for passage of the SAVE America Act, citing India’s voter identification system while arguing that stricter identification and citizenship requirements are needed for US elections.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump referred to comments he said were made by India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar about the absence of mandatory photo identification in US elections.

Trump said India’s 2024 general election had 646 million voters, with less than 1% voting by mail, and that voters were required to carry valid photo identification.

Trump used the comparison to support legislation that would require proof of US citizenship for federal voter registration and establish nationwide voter identification requirements.

The proposal would also place tighter restrictions on voting by mail and require states to remove non-citizens from voter rolls.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also backed Trump’s position, saying India’s election system demonstrated the importance of voter identification.

The SAVE America Act was introduced in January but has faced opposition and divisions in Congress.

The US Senate entered a five-week recess earlier this month without advancing the legislation.

The White House has described the bill as a measure to ensure that only US citizens participate in federal elections.

It has also compared American voting procedures with systems in countries including India and Brazil, citing their use of voter identification linked to biometric databases.