ODIHR opens election observation mission to the United States

WASHINGTON D.C., 29 September 2022 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 8 November midterm congressional elections in the United States, following an invitation from the national authorities.

As one of the OSCE’s 57 participating States, the United States has committed itself to holding elections in line with OSCE standards and inviting international election observers, and ODIHR has assessed elections in the country since 2002. This Election Observation Mission is led by Tana de Zulueta Owtram and consists of 17 international experts based in Washington D.C. and 40 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country. ODIHR has also requested 400 short-term observers, to arrive in the country some days before election day. 

The mission will assess the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor all aspects of the elections, including pre- and post-election developments. Specific areas of focus include the legal framework, the election administration, which also covers voter registration and voter identification, alternative voting mechanisms and measures to ensure secrecy of the vote, constituency delimitation and the mechanisms for delimitation, new voting technologies, the campaign environment, campaign finance, and coverage of these elections by the media, including online.

Meetings with representatives of state authorities, political parties and candidates, civil society, the media and the international community form an integral part of the observation.

On election day, the ODIHR mission will join efforts with a delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to observe the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results.

An interim report will be published some two weeks prior to the elections to update the public and the media on the observation mission’s activities. The day after the elections, the mission’s preliminary findings and conclusions will be presented at a press conference. A final report with an assessment of the entire election process and containing recommendations will be published some months after the elections.

Media contacts:

Ivan Godarsky, Mission Media Analyst: ivan.godarsky@odihr.us or +1 771 210 9548

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR spokesperson: Katya.Andrusz@odihr.pl or +48 609 522 266