OSCE Says It 'Regrets' Not Being Invited to Observe US Midterm Elections

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has said it "regrets" that its election observers will not be present for the 2026 US midterm elections, marking the first time in more than two decades that the organization has not been invited to monitor a vote in the United States.

Since 2002, the OSCE says it has observed a total of twelve US federal elections, including six previous midterm contests, through its election-monitoring office. The office typically deploys teams of observers to assess the conduct of elections against international standards, covering issues such as voter access, ballot security and campaign conduct.

The absence of an invitation for the 2026 midterms represents a break from that long-standing practice, though the specific reasons behind the decision were not detailed. OSCE election observation missions are typically extended at the invitation of the host government, and previous US administrations from both parties have invited the organization to monitor federal elections.

The development comes amid broader questions about the conduct and oversight of American elections, and it is likely to draw attention from international observers and democracy advocates who see external election monitoring as a tool for building public confidence in the electoral process.