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His remarks come shortly after President Donald Trump referred to India’s electoral system while making a case for stricter voter identification requirements in the United States.
File image of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and United States President Donald Trump. (Source: PTI/Reuters)
Reacting to United States President Donald Trump’s praise for India’s electoral system, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday attributed it to the success of the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
He said that two factors drove the SIR’s smooth roll-out across states which are: the willingness of the poll panel to undertake the exercise and the co-operation extended by voters.
Speaking in Lucknow, Kumar said the exercise demanded determination from the Election Commission as well as active participation from citizens.
“Conducting SIR requires not only guts on the part of the Election Commission but also the cooperation of the voters. And we received that cooperation from voters in abundance,” he said.
Kumar said that this is why the Election Commission of India has emerged as an institution that other countries are increasingly observing for lessons on conducting elections and maintaining electoral rolls.
“That is precisely why, today, others look to the Election Commission of India, learning from it and praising it, wishing they could or resolving that they will do the same in their own countries,” Kumar said.
Trump Praises India’s Electoral System
His remarks come shortly after US President Donald Trump referred to India’s electoral system while making a case for stricter voter identification requirements in the United States.
Trump, in a post on X, highlighted the scale of India’s last general election and pointed to the use of photo identification by voters.
“India’s last Election had 646,000,000 Voters! Less than 1% voted by mail, and every single Voter had to have a VALID Photo Identity Document,” Trump had said.
He used the comparison while renewing his call for the passage of the SAVE America Act, legislation that seeks tighter rules governing voter registration and federal elections in the US.
Also Read: ‘Credibility Of India’s Election Is Well-Established Fact Globally’: MEA After Trump’s Remark
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also cited India’s 2024 Lok Sabha election while backing Trump’s position.
“President Donald J. Trump is absolutely correct! 646 MILLION voters, every single one required an ID in India’s last election. Congress should pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT!” Gor said in a post on X.
Kumar’s comments come as the Election Commission presses ahead with SIR across multiple states. The exercise involves detailed verification and updating of electoral rolls, with the poll panel seeking to ensure that the voter lists accurately reflect eligible electors.
The CEC’s remarks also place the voter participation aspect of the revision exercise alongside the Election Commission’s own role, as the poll body continues its efforts to update and verify electoral records.
Key Questions Answered
Ask News18The SAVE America Act, or Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, is a proposed US legislation that aims to make American elections more secure and transparent by requiring proof of US citizenship and valid photo identification for voter registration in federal elections. It also seeks to limit voting by mail and remove non-citizens from federal voter rolls.
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Prisha is the Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than 10 years of experience in national and international news. She specialises in editorial leadership, sharp news judgment, and high-impact st…Read More
Delhi, India, India
August 25, 2026, 2:42 PM IST
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