This is the first time in over two decades that observers from the regional security group won’t be in the US, MS Now reported . President Donald Trump ‘s administration is not inviting election observers from Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to witness the midterms . In doing so, Washington has joined Russia and Belarus.
The US goes to vote on November 3, at a time when rising fuel costs, the Iran War, and ICE activity across the country is expected to be on voters’ minds. They were called to observe the 2018 midterms during Trump’s first term, and most recently the 2024 elections as well. Republicans are trying to hold on to the seats while Democrats look to expand their presence. Democrats and election integrity experts had already flagged worries about potential election meddling, over the Justice Department announcing plans to send its own monitors. Senator Jeanne Shaheen remarked “The Trump administration’s decision not to invite international observers to the United States is deeply antithetical to the spirit of freedom, democracy and transparency that defines our elections. She noted that the US should hold ‘itself to the same standards that we would expect of any other democracy. The OSCE monitors have no enforcement power and they don’t interfere in the election process. Their access to polling stations is decided by each state. At the time OSCE noted it was ‘well run’ with candidates campaigning ‘freely across the country’.
the Human Rights Watch said the move ‘fuels fears of serious human rights concerns around the upcoming elections While the OSCE called the decision ‘regrettable’.
