American billionaire and prominent Silicon Valley investor Vinod Khosla has publicly endorsed Tesla CEO Elon Musk's advocacy for establishing a universal digital identification system and stricter voter ID laws in the United States. Khosla pointed to India's Aadhaar card as a successful model that has authenticated billions while cutting down on fraud.
Khosla Praises Aadhaar Model for the US
In a reply to a post by Elon Musk on the social platform X, Khosla expressed strong agreement. He argued that the US already uses fragmented IDs like passports and driver's licenses, and the time is right for a unified digital alternative. "Another thing we agree on. We already have fragmented ID that is used a lot: passports, driver licenses, ...time to add one universal US digital ID everyone can use to replace Instagram/Facebook ID, Google ID etc and add safeguards for privacy and other use cases," Khosla stated.
He specifically highlighted the efficiency of India's system, noting its convenience and anti-fraud benefits. "Aadhaar works super well in India, increases convenience and reduces fraud. Even though it is opt in (and US can be also), not having it is so inconvenient, almost everyone gets it except people who have something to hide," he added, reinforcing his support for Musk's stance.
Elon Musk's Demand for Voter ID Laws
Elon Musk's call for passing voter ID laws came in response to a post by Matt Van Swol, a former nuclear scientist for the US Department of Energy and ex-photographer for Apple. Van Swol criticized the perceived inaction on election integrity measures ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, alleging that Democrats were overlooking fraud. "So let me just get this straight… We know that Democrats are turning a blind eye to financial fraud and voter fraud......but the GOP will NOT PASS any voter ID laws BEFORE THE MIDTERMS?????" Van Swol asked, prompting Musk's emphatic "PASS VOTER ID" endorsement.
This is not the first time Musk has supported the idea. Last year, he shared a Gallup poll graphic showing that 84% of Americans favour requiring photo ID to vote, with only 15% opposed, commenting, "The will of the people should be made law."
Political Context and Market Predictions
The debate unfolds amid a heated political climate. The prediction market platform Kalshi has seen its odds surge, forecasting a 78% chance for Democrats to retake the House in the November 2026 midterms. This prediction follows an assumed "blue sweep" in local elections in November 2025, adding urgency to discussions around election security and voter verification from both sides of the aisle.
The proposal for a US digital ID, inspired by Aadhaar's technological framework, now finds powerful backers in the tech world. It frames a significant conversation about privacy, security, and modernizing civic infrastructure in America, using India's large-scale implementation as a key reference point.
