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WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the November 3 midterm elections less than a month away, the Trump administration has declined to invite international monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to observe the vote, the first time the United States has done so since 2002. The decision, which the administration has not publicly explained, has drawn criticism from the OSCE itself, from human rights groups and from election-integrity advocates who say it sends the wrong signal at a tense moment for American democracy.

A 24-Year Tradition Ends

The OSCE has observed every U.S. federal election since 2002, covering 12 election cycles, including six midterms. In 2024, the group concluded that the American election was well run and that candidates were able to campaign freely. Observers typically fan out across states, speak with election officials and candidates, and publish findings and recommendations afterward.

The arrangement is built on reciprocity. All 57 OSCE participating countries have committed to enable monitors from fellow members, and the United States has long used that principle to press other governments, including Russia and Belarus, to open their own elections to scrutiny. Those two countries are among the few that have refused observers in recent years, which is why critics say the American decision is so jarring.

What the OSCE and Others Are Saying

The OSCE described the decision as regrettable. The president of its Parliamentary Assembly said it "represents a significant departure from an established democratic practice." Switzerland, which chairs the OSCE, expressed regret and said support for election observation missions is a priority.

Human Rights Watch said the move is especially hard to square with the administration's emphasis on fighting election fraud. In a statement, its executive director, Philippe Bolopion, warned that without external monitors it will be harder for the world to reliably know whether voting rights were respected. Swiss public broadcaster Swissinfo reported that the administration has offered no official explanation, leaving critics to speculate that it wants to avoid independent scrutiny amid continuing disputes over the 2020 election.

A Charged Backdrop

The decision comes amid a series of election-related fights. Human Rights Watch pointed to the Supreme Court's approval of the SAVE database for citizenship verification, which the group warns could wrongly block naturalized citizens. It also noted plans to deploy about 1,000 federal monitors at polling places, unresolved questions about whether armed immigration agents could be present near voting sites, and multiple lawsuits from civil rights organizations and cities over intimidation concerns.

The Supreme Court has also been drawn into the midterm fight. Justices recently blocked the administration's attempt to change mail-in voting rules before the election and stopped a Trump-backed congressional map in Missouri, rulings that prompted the president to criticize his own appointees.

Separately, reporting this week indicated that election denier Tina Peters met with Trump and that associates floated the idea of using the Commerce Department to seize voting machines said to contain foreign-made parts. Election experts quoted in that reporting said no such legal authority exists. The claim remains unverified, and the administration has not confirmed any such plan.

Why Observers Matter

International observers do not run elections or certify results, and they have no power to overturn outcomes. Their value is credibility. A neutral, experienced team that watches the process and reports what it sees can reinforce public confidence when the results are fair, and flag problems when they are not. Swissinfo noted that OSCE observation is widely regarded as the gold standard, with far more experience and credibility than most other monitoring bodies.

Supporters of the administration's position could argue that American elections are run by states and counties under U.S. law and need no foreign oversight. Some conservatives have long been skeptical of international involvement in domestic affairs. Still, because the United States has accepted OSCE observers for more than two decades, ending the practice now invites the question of why.

What It Means for Voters

For ordinary Americans, the practical effect is less about what observers would have done on Election Day than about what the move signals. In a country where trust in elections is sharply divided, the absence of an independent outside review gives both sides a new argument. Critics will say the administration has something to hide, while allies will say outside groups are unnecessary and biased. Either way, any later dispute over close races could be harder to settle without a neutral assessment.

Domestic groups, from nonpartisan poll-watching coalitions to state election officials, are expected to fill part of the gap. They can document wait times, access problems and irregularities, though they lack the international standing the OSCE carries.

What Comes Next

The OSCE could still pursue other ways to follow the election, and members of Congress may press the State Department for a reason. Whether the administration reverses course is unclear. What is certain is that on November 3, for the first time in a generation, American voters will cast ballots without the international observers who have watched every federal election since the start of this century.