2 weeks ago
India’s Election Commission Details Voter Cards and Election Oversight
India’s Election Commission says nearly one billion voters have special photo identity cards.
These cards are used when people vote.
Voters can also download an electronic version of the card.
Election workers prepare voter lists for about 1.2 million polling stations.
Political parties check those lists through their own booth-level agents.
Candidates’ agents also watch the voting process.
Counting agents watch the counting of votes.
Donald Trump mentioned India’s system while supporting a proposed US law requiring voter identification and proof of citizenship.
Election Commission officials said nearly 100 crore Indian electors have been issued special Electoral Photo Identity Cards.
They said voting in India is conducted using photo identification, with downloadable electronic voter cards also available.
Electoral rolls for approximately 1.2 million polling stations are prepared by state-government booth-level officers.
Political parties’ booth-level agents and candidates’ polling agents audit electoral rolls and polling, while counting agents audit vote counting.
Donald Trump cited India’s voter-identification system while promoting the proposed SAVE America Act in the United States.
- Who
- Election Commission of India officials, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and US President Donald Trump.
- What
- Officials described India’s voter cards and multiple layers of election oversight, while Trump cited the system in support of the SAVE America Act.
- Where
- India, in comparison with proposed election rules in the United States.
- When
- The officials made the remarks on Tuesday; Trump made his cited post on Monday.
- Why
- Trump was seeking support for legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, nationwide voter identification, and tighter limits on voting by mail.
Indian Election Officials’ Account
Donald Trump’s Argument
Photo identification
Indian Election Officials’ Account
Officials said nearly all Indian electors have been issued special Electoral Photo Identity Cards and that polling is conducted using photo identification.
Donald Trump’s Argument
Trump cited India’s requirement for a valid photo identity document while arguing for mandatory photo identification for US voters.
Election safeguards
Indian Election Officials’ Account
Officials emphasized checks by booth-level agents, polling agents, and counting agents appointed by political parties or candidates.
Donald Trump’s Argument
Trump focused on voter identification and proof-of-citizenship requirements as measures to address what he called electoral fraud.
Voting by mail
Indian Election Officials’ Account
Officials highlighted that India’s elections rely primarily on in-person polling and photo identification.
Donald Trump’s Argument
Trump said less than 1% of voters in India’s recent general election used postal ballots and used that comparison to support limits on voting by mail in the United States.
Key facts
- Electors with special EPICs
- Nearly 100 crore, or close to one billion, according to Election Commission officials.
- Polling stations
- Approximately 1.2 million.
- Voter identification
- Polling in India is held based on a photo identity card.
- Electronic voter cards
- Electors can download e-EPICs from a dedicated website.
- Electoral-roll preparation
- Booth-level officers employed by state governments prepare the rolls.
- Election oversight
- Political parties’ booth-level agents, candidates’ polling agents, and counting agents audit different stages of the process.
- Trump’s comparison
- Trump said 646 million voters participated in India’s recent general election and that less than 1% voted by mail.
Quotes
Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
“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.”
rediff.com
Sources
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