US for the first time does not invite OSCE to observe federal elections

The United States for the first time in more than two decades has not invited observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to a federal election. This concerns the midterm congressional elections to be held on November 3, 2026.

The absence of an invitation was reported on September 23 by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The organization stressed that it has observed all federal elections in the United States since 2002.

During this time, the OSCE has deployed missions to 12 federal election campaigns in the United States, including six midterm elections. Thus, the 2026 vote will be the first federal election cycle since this practice began for which the organization has not received an invitation.

The OSCE stated that such a decision is not in line with the commitments undertaken by participating States under the 1990 Copenhagen Document. The document provides for inviting international observers to elections as a mechanism for enhancing transparency of the electoral process.

ODIHR Director Maria Telalian noted that for more than 20 years the organization has cooperated with US federal, regional and local authorities, election administrations, parties and civil society organizations.

She stressed that the work of international observers is not an assessment of a country or its state institutions. Missions analyze legislation, the work of election bodies, voter and candidate registration, campaign conduct, media work and resolution of election disputes, and then publish an independent report.

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pere Joan Pons called the absence of an invitation a significant departure from the practice the US has followed for more than two decades. This is the assessment of OSCE representatives themselves.

In 2022, ODIHR conducted a limited election observation mission for the midterm elections in the US. The OSCE calendar currently shows no observation mission for the US congressional elections on November 3, 2026.

ODIHR and the Parliamentary Assembly stated that they remain ready to cooperate with the United States and expect to return to observing future federal elections.

Based on materials from: OSCE ODIHR, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly