ODIHR and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly regret the absence of invitation to observe U.S. mid-term elections

WARSAW/COPENHAGEN, 23 September 2026 – The decision not to invite the OSCE to observe the 2026 mid-term congressional elections in the United States is regrettable, particularly given the long-standing co-operation with the country in the field of election observation, leaders of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) said today.

The decision is not in line with the commitments undertaken by all OSCE participating States under the 1990 Copenhagen Document, which recognizes that the presence of international observers can enhance the electoral process, and commits all participating States to invite observers from other participating States and from appropriate private institutions and organizations.

“Over more than two decades, ODIHR has built a constructive relationship with authorities and electoral stakeholders across the United States, and we regret that we will not be able to continue this work during the upcoming mid-term elections,” said ODIHR Director Maria Telalian. “Election observation is not a judgment on a country or its institutions. It provides voters, election administrators, contestants and the wider public with an independent and objective assessment of the electoral process.”

Since 2002, the OSCE has observed 12 federal elections in the United States, including six mid-term elections, and has developed constructive co-operation with federal, state and local authorities, election administrators, political parties, civil society and other stakeholders. These will be the first U.S. federal elections since the OSCE began observing in the country for which the OSCE has not received an invitation.

“As President of an Assembly committed to dialogue, I deeply regret the decision taken by the United States not to invite the OSCE to observe its 2026 mid-term elections,” said OSCE PA President Pere Joan Pons (Spain). “After more than two decades in which the United States has welcomed OSCE observers to its federal elections, this decision represents a significant departure from an established democratic practice.”

Observation would have provided valuable independent analysis of developments in the legal and regulatory framework since the last federal elections, taking into account the findings of previous ODIHR reports. As in every election, respect for freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly, together with independent and non-partisan citizen observation, remain important elements of electoral transparency and public confidence.

ODIHR and the OSCE PA remain ready to continue their long-standing co-operation with the United States, including through support for the implementation of previous election-related recommendations, and look forward to the opportunity to observe future federal elections in accordance with ODIHR’s established methodology and the OSCE practice of election observation across the region.