Trump Limits Election Oversight, Aligns US With Russia and Belarus

WHO:

Truthout - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has been observing U.S. federal elections since 2002.

Alternet - Maria Telalian is the Director of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

Alternet - Philippe Bolopion is the Executive Director of Human Rights Watch.

Alternet - Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

WHAT:

Truthout - The U.S. has rejected OSCE participation in a federal election for the first time in over two decades.

Alternet - The Trump administration did not invite international observers for the November midterms, marking the first federal election in over 20 years without OSCE observers.

Alternet - The Justice Department plans to send up to 1,000 monitors to polling places across the country for the midterms, a record number.

Alternet - A poll indicated that 49% of Americans expect the midterm elections to be “free and fair,” while 23% do not expect them to be, and 28% are uncertain.

WHERE:

Alternet - The decision aligns the U.S. with Russia and Belarus, both of which have also not invited OSCE observers to their recent elections.

WHEN:

Alternet - The midterm elections are scheduled for November 3.

WHY:

Alternet - The State Department justified the decision by stating that the OSCE “should focus its limited resources on elections where it can have the greatest impact.”

Alternet - Human Rights Watch criticized the refusal, stating it may hinder outside scrutiny of the midterms and that the U.S. has long criticized other countries for avoiding external election scrutiny.

HOW:

Alternet - The OSCE described the U.S. decision as "regrettable" and in conflict with commitments made under the 1990 Copenhagen Document.

(UPDATED October 6, 2026 23:02 UTC)

In a significant shift, the U.S. has rejected participation from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, or OSCE, for the upcoming midterm elections, marking the first time in over two decades that international observers will not be present. The Trump administration's decision aligns the U.S. with countries like Russia and Belarus, which have also opted out of inviting OSCE observers, while the Justice Department plans to send a record number of up to 1,000 monitors to polling places across the country. Critics, including Human Rights Watch, have expressed concern that this refusal may limit external scrutiny of the elections, a move that contradicts the U.S.'s long-standing stance on the importance of transparent electoral processes.