For the first time in more than two decades, the United States has not invited international observers to watch its federal elections. At the same time, the Justice Department says it will send a record 1,000 of its own monitors to polling places on Election Day.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, through its election office ODIHR, has observed every U.S. federal election since 2002: 12 rounds, including six midterms. This year it was not asked. The OSCE called the decision "regrettable" and "not in line with" the commitments the United States has signed up to, Human Rights Watch reports.
