NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump’s post appreciating India’s mandatory elector identification system followed an Aug 12 meeting between chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and US ambassador to India Sergio Gor at Nirvachan Sadan. Kumar apprised the latter that electoral photo identity cards had been issued by EC to nearly 1 billion electors and that the turnout in recent Indian polls was higher than that in major democracies of the world.The query by Kumar that Trump cited in his post had figured in the discussions, which were part of an exercise by CEC to take forward the spirit of Delhi Declaration 2026.TOI learned that Gor was curious about various aspects of Indian elections. Kumar explained how polls were held under the scrutiny of all political parties, represented by booth level agents during the preparation of the electoral roll, polling agents during voting and counting agents on counting day. According to EC officials, electoral rolls are prepared for each of the 1.2 million polling booths by booth level officers who are employees of state govt.
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Kumar cited the high turnout, particularly in the last round of assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, to highlight the popular perception in their favour.Officials said the recent polls witnessed a turnout of 93.7% in Bengal, 91.2% in Puducherry, 86.3% in Assam, 86% in TN and 79.5% in Kerala. The Bengal turnout was higher than that recorded in 25 of the world’s leading democracies, including Australia, Belgium, Indonesia, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, France, US, UK and Japan.