The Romanian presidential elections are cited as an example even by the man sent by American President Donald Trump to oversee the integrity of the electoral process in our country. Trey Trainor, the president of the American electoral authority, praises Romania for the way it organized the elections and points out that America has something to learn from our country.
At the invitation of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP), James Edwin „Trey” Trainor III, the head of the Federal Election Commission in the USA, led the observer delegation to the first round of the presidential elections and was impressed by how the ballot was conducted.
How Trump's Man Views the Elections in Romania
"I directly witnessed an electoral process that not only met but exceeded in many ways international democratic standards. As a member of the Federal Election Commission, I have observed elections all over the globe, and Romania's system stands out as a model of transparency, security, and civic dedication," he writes in an article published in the conservative publication Washington Examiner.
Trainor, who was appointed by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the US Senate in 2020, states that the elections were conducted fairly throughout Romania, with strong guarantees. Each vote was cast using a paper ballot, and the entire ballot counting process was not only done in the presence of voting observers from each political party but also recorded on video to ensure transparency.
The US election commission chief also notes that there were no delays in reporting the results. "In fact, the entire country completed its vote count within a few hours of the polls closing - evidence of both the simplicity and integrity of the process," he mentions.
What Impressed the US Election Oversight Official in Romania
Trainor also expresses admiration for the system that allows only Romanian citizens to register (on supplementary lists, ed.) to vote — an essential guarantee for maintaining the integrity of their elections. He also highlights that authorities took cyber threats seriously: "I was informed about reported attempts by foreign actors to disrupt the elections. Romania's quick and efficient response maintained confidence in the outcome."
The American representative mentions that Romania is a nation striving to emerge from its communist past, and many middle-aged citizens remember life under authoritarian rule when "elections were more symbolic." "This memory fuels a deep national respect for democratic principles and a commitment to safeguard them. That is why its elections are treated with the seriousness they deserve: secure voter lists, each voter presenting identification documents, paper ballots, transparent counting, and timely results," he writes.
The American official states that Romania's electoral process is "strikingly" similar to the principles outlined in the SAVE Act and the Executive Order on Maintaining and Protecting American Election Integrity issued by President Donald Trump. The executive order, issued last month, is currently being implemented.
Meanwhile, the SAVE Act was passed by the US House of Representatives earlier this year and is now pending in the Senate. These measures would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, restore the universal use of paper ballots, and strengthen ballot custody chain protection, all policies already implemented in Romania, according to the head of the American electoral authority.
"Unfortunately, in the United States, common-sense reforms like these often become politically polarizing. But democracy should never be a partisan issue. Romania's approach is not about left or right, but about trust, verification, and national unity. Its system demonstrates that a secure, efficient, and transparent electoral process is not only possible but also practical," Trainor emphasizes.
What the US Should Learn from Romania
The American official adds that in his statement about the elections in our country, he praised the Romanian people for their active civic participation and unwavering commitment to democratic values.
"Their behavior reflects a nation that takes democracy seriously - something that the USA, as a long-standing ally, should respect and learn from.
Democracy is strengthened through transparency, resilience, and mutual respect - principles that unite our nations. Through the SAVE Act, we have the opportunity to reaffirm these principles at home and ensure that every individual can trust the outcome of our elections," concludes the head of the American electoral authority.