Washington, March 25, 2025 – US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday aimed at reshaping American elections, mandating voter citizenship proof and stricter ballot rules, while pointing to India’s biometric system as an example. The move, announced hours ago (NDTV, 6:50 PM IST), seeks to tighten voting integrity but has ignited debate over feasibility and intent.
The order requires voters to show citizenship evidence, counts only mail-in ballots received by Election Day, and bans non-US citizens from donating to certain campaigns. Trump, fresh off defeating Kamala Harris in 2024, called it essential for “free, fair elections,” arguing that India’s use of biometric voter IDs—linking fingerprints and photos via Aadhaar—curbs fraud. “Countries like India get it right,” he said, per NDTV. Posts on X from @IndiaToday (8:05 PM IST) note Trump lauding India’s model, though details on US adoption remain vague.
India’s system, managing 970 million voters in 2024 (ECI), contrasts with America’s decentralized setup. Critics, including Democrats, slam it as voter suppression, citing logistical hurdles—only 66% of US adults have passports (State Dept., 2024). The real issue? Balancing security with access in a polarized nation. As Trump pushes this amid tariff wars and annexation talk, the India nod raises a question: Can a foreign blueprint fix America’s electoral trust gap?
