The OSCE observation mission, carried out jointly by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), concluded that the US Third of November general elections were competitive and well managed despite the many challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, the campaign was characterized by deeply entrenched political polarisation that often obscured the broader policy debate and included baseless allegations of systematic fraud.
Baseless allegations of systematic deficiencies, notably by the incumbent president, including on election night, harm public trust in democratic institutions,” Michael Georg Link, the leader and special coordinator of the short-term OSCE observer mission, said in a statement Wednesday.
“Nobody – no politician, no elected official – should limit the people’s right to vote. Coming after such a highly dynamic campaign, making sure that every vote is counted is a fundamental obligation for all branches of government,” said Michael Georg Link, Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission. “Baseless allegations of systematic deficiencies, notably by the incumbent President, including on election night, harm public trust in democratic institutions.”
“The right to vote and to have that vote counted is among the most fundamental principles of democracy,” said Kari Henriksen, Head of the OSCE PA delegation. “While the United States has taken great strides toward expanding the franchise, concerns remain regarding universal adult suffrage. Women’s participation in politics has also increased, but there should be greater attention paid to this. In the context of COVID-19 and the rise in mail-in voting, I am concerned about attempts to restrict the counting of legally cast ballots.”