Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Aug 18: US President Donald Trump has cited India's electoral system while renewing his call for mandatory photo identification for voters in the United States, claiming that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar recently questioned how American elections could be conducted without valid photo IDs.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said less than one per cent of voters in India's recent general election used postal ballots and claimed that every voter was required to possess a valid photo identity document.

"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.

Trump used the remarks to step up his campaign for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which would require Americans to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote, introduce a nationwide voter identification requirement and significantly restrict voting by mail.

"We need to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, now," Trump asserted.

Trump has repeatedly argued that the legislation would help prevent electoral fraud and strengthen election integrity.

However, the proposed legislation has faced divisions among both Democrats and Republicans. The US Senate adjourned for a five-week recess earlier this month without taking concrete steps towards its passage.