Following US President Donald Trump referencing India's voting framework while advocating for stricter electoral reforms within the United States, the Ministry of External Affairs has officially responded. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clearly stated during a press briefing that the credibility, reliability, and robustness of India's election system and its entire operational process are globally established facts. When questioned by reporters regarding Donald Trump's remarks, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that he did not have any specific additional commentary to offer on those remarks, but reiterated that the reliability of India's election machinery is universally recognized across the world.
Why Donald Trump Applauded India's Election System
To make the electoral process in the United States much stricter and more transparent, President Donald Trump has been urging the passage of the SAVE America Act. While presenting his arguments in this context, he showered high praise on India's electoral model. Sharing his thoughts on the social media platform Truth Social, Donald Trump specifically referenced a conversation he had with Chief Election Commissioner of India Gyanesh Kumar. Donald Trump wrote that earlier this month, Chief Election Commissioner of India Gyanesh Kumar asked their administration how elections could possibly be conducted in America without any proper and valid photo identification card.
Citing More Than 64 Crore Voters as a Benchmark
Highlighting the scale of India's massive democracy and election system, Donald Trump pointed out that more than 64.6 crore people participated in voting during India's previous general elections. Despite such a massive turnout, less than 1 percent of votes were cast via mail, and the most remarkable aspect was that every single voter possessed a valid photo identity card. Presenting this system as an exemplary model, Donald Trump appealed to US lawmakers to pass the SAVE America Act in the United States without any further delay.
Domestic Opposition Raises Questions Over Smart Election Setup
While the smart election system receives praise internationally, the domestic Indian opposition has frequently raised questions regarding the exact same mechanism. The primary points of contention raised by opposition parties include the following aspects.
- EVM Versus Ballot Papers: The Indian opposition, including parties like the Congress and Samajwadi Party, consistently raises questions concerning the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines, their internal microchips, and demands the 100 percent counting of VVPAT paper slips.
- Concerns Over Voter List Revision: The Indian opposition has continuously targeted the Election Commission over the voter list cleanup programs being conducted. Opposition parties believe that votes of individuals whose ideologies do not align with the government are being intentionally deleted.
