The Trump administration has chosen not to invite observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe for the upcoming midterm elections, the first time in more than two decades that OSCE monitors will not be present at a U.S. federal election. The group has observed every U.S. federal election since 2002.
When asked about the decision, a State Department spokesperson stated that the OSCE should direct its limited resources toward elections where it can have the greatest impact.
OSCE monitors visit selected polling stations and later issue a report on the conduct of the election. Russia and Belarus are the only other OSCE participating states that have also declined to invite the organization’s observers.
In a statement, the OSCE said the decision does not align with the U.S. commitments under the OSCE, where participating states have agreed to invite observers to their elections.
