US Excludes OSCE Observers from Midterm Elections

• •The Trump administration has not invited OSCE observers for the midterms, breaking a 24-year precedent.
• •This decision has drawn criticism from Democrats and election integrity advocates, citing risks to public trust.
• •The U.S. now joins Russia and Belarus in excluding international election monitors.

For the first time since 2002, the Trump administration has declined to invite election observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for the upcoming midterm elections. This decision aligns the U.S. with Russia and Belarus, the only other countries to refuse OSCE monitors. The absence of these observers raises concerns among Democrats and election integrity experts about potential election meddling. OSCE officials expressed regret over the U.S. decision, emphasizing the importance of independent election assessments. The State Department defended the choice, stating that OSCE should allocate resources to elections where they can have a greater impact. Critics, including Senator Jeanne Shaheen, argue that this move undermines public trust in the electoral process. The OSCE has been monitoring U.S. elections continuously since 2002, providing objective assessments that often counter misinformation about election integrity.