The head of the OSCE’s election observation mission for the US midterms told DW that voter registration disputes have had an impact on the debate about the polls. She also discussed why journalist safety is a key issue.
DW: As many people may not be familiar with your mission, can you briefly explain your mandate and how the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has come to monitor the US midterm elections?
Tana de Zulueta: This is actually the eighth OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission to the United States. So this is a long-standing engagement with the United States and a part of the United States’ commitment, like all other participating states, including Germany, where I observed the election last year.
In each situation we send a mission according to the needs which a needs assessment establishes [first]. And in the case of the United States this time around, it was recommended to send what we call a limited election observation mission, which means we do not have short-term observers that systematically monitor polling on Election Day. We have just got long-term observers, and we have 36 of these traveling across the United States. We have been here since October 3.
Just to clarify: You were invited by the Trump administration to observe the US midterm elections?
Yes, we were invited by the State Department — as usual.
In your interim report after traveling through the country ahead of the midterms, you state that there are disputes about voter registration and identification, which is a highly charged issue that is the subject of ongoing litigation. Are you concerned that this could have an impact on the election?
It is important to note that voting has already begun and so this is an ongoing election. A very large portion of voting is already happening. Yesterday, I visited a polling station in Atlanta, Georgia, and yes indeed it is true that there are outstanding issues and ongoing litigation concerning a very sensitive issue in a country in which fears of discrimination run deep because of its history.
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