Trump praises India’s polls as Congress takes a swipe at CEC
Indian electoral machinery, especially its chief, Gyanesh Kumar, has come in for praise by US President Donald Trump, as he asked American lawmakers to emulate the system in an attempt to drum up support stricter electoral laws in the US. Trump lauded the Indian election system and recalled Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kumar, questioning the lack of voter identification in American polls.
“Earlier this month, India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, asked our Administration - How can you have Elections in the US without a valid Photo ID,” Trump wrote “India’s last Election had 646,000,000 Voters! Less than one per cent voted by mail, and every single Voter had to have a VALID Photo Identity Document,” he said adding “We need to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, now.”
The US president made these remarks making a case for the SAVE America Act, which would require Americans to show proof of citizenship to register to vote, impose a nationwide voter identification requirement and severely limit voting by mail.
Trump has been insisting on passing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, claiming the move would curb electoral fraud. Quick to react, the Congress party in India, which has raised allegations of voter deletions via the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and irregularities in the preparation of voter rolls said, “Please take Gyanesh Kumar to America and keep him there.” “We will send our EVMs too by the next available flight. For all the insults and bullying you’ve sent our way, this is the least we can do for you,”
Congress leader, Pawan Khera posted on X. On being asked asked about the US President’s comments, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) 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.”
Interestingly, voter participation in 2026 was nearly 94 per cent as compared to more than 40 per cent in 1951 when the first polls were held in independent India.
Polling in India is held based on a photo identity card. The ECI has issued a special Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) to all close to a billion electors. Electoral Rolls in India are prepared for each for the 1.2 million polling booths by the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) who are employees of the State government and are concurrently audited by the Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties.
Polling in Booths is also concurrently audited by Polling Agents appointed by the Candidates. Similarly, counting of votes is also concurrently audited by the Counting Agents appointed by the Candidates.
