OSCE announces it will not observe the U.S. congressional elections on Nov. 3
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe says it will not send observers to the U.S. congressional elections, ending a two-decade practice.
Since 2002, OSCE monitors have attended twelve U.S. federal elections, but the body has decided to skip the upcoming congressional vote on November 3. In a statement, OSCE called the move a “regrettable” departure from established democratic norms. It also noted that the decision conflicts with commitments made by all OSCE member states since 1990.
Why it matters
It signals a shift in how the U.S. engages with international election-monitoring norms.
In this story
OSCEelection observersU.S. congressional electiondemocratic practiceinternational monitoringNovember 3federal elections1990 commitments
