OSCE parliamentarians to observe mid-term elections in United States of America

COPENHAGEN, 22 October 2014 – OSCE parliamentarians will conduct a limited election observation mission to the United States of America for the country’s mid-term Congressional elections on 4 November.

Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, will serve as head of the delegation, which will comprise almost 40 MPs from 20 countries.

“I am eager to lead a diverse group of parliamentarians to observe the U.S. vote, holding it up to the same standards that we apply throughout the OSCE area. It is vital that even countries with an established history of democracy continuously assess the quality of their elections and continue making necessary improvements,” Santos said.

OSCE PA observers will participate in several days of briefings ahead of election day, engaging with experts, participants in the political process and members of the media. 

Observers will deploy to polling stations in the Washington area on 4 November, supported by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).

The limited mission will examine the elections and their adherence to democratic commitments contained in the OSCE’s 1990 Copenhagen Document.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has observed presidential and/or Congressional elections in the United States of America in 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2012.

Since 1993, more than 5,000 OSCE parliamentarians and staff have observed more than 130 different elections in more than 30 countries.

For more information about the OSCE PA’s election monitoring work, click here.