Trump’s Executive Order Highlights India’s Voter ID System and Acknowledges Singh’s Legacy
Trump’s executive order emphasizes biometric voter ID systems, citing India and Brazil. It critiques the US’s reliance on self-attestation and mandates state cooperation with federal agencies to improve election security, while acknowledging Manmohan Singh’s role in India’s Aadhaar system.
US President Donald Trump issued an executive order emphasizing the importance of voter identification linked to biometric databases, referencing India’s system as an example. He stated that maintaining free and fair elections is vital for the US constitutional Republic, asserting the necessity for votes to be counted accurately without illegal interference.
The order indicates that while India and Brazil have implemented biometric voter identification, the US primarily relies on self-attestation for citizenship. Following this mention, Congress acknowledged former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for introducing the Aadhaar card, viewing it as a valuable contribution to India’s election integrity.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore remarked on the irony, recalling that PM Modi criticized Aadhaar during its inception, highlighting the contrast and recognizing Singh’s leadership as visionary. The executive order further demands that states collaborate with federal agencies to enhance election protections, threatening the withdrawal of federal funding for non-compliance.
President Trump’s order mandates federal agencies like DHS and the State Department to provide data assisting in identifying non-citizen voters. This follows his ongoing claims of election rigging, particularly concerning mail voting, which he deems insecure and fraudulent.
In summary, President Trump’s executive order advocates for stronger voter identification processes inspired by India’s biometric system, while Congress aligns this effort with the legacy of Manmohan Singh and the Aadhaar initiative. The order also stipulates cooperation between states and federal agencies to ensure election integrity and threatens funding cuts for failure to comply, underscoring the administration’s commitment to reforming the electoral process amid ongoing claims of electoral fraud.
Original Source: www.livemint.com
