The OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) has been observing elections in its 56 member nations starting in 2002. This article describes the OSCE reaction to recent news that Iowa will not allow international observers to be closer than 300 feet to any polling place. OSCE says it will not violate state laws, but reminds the U.S. that the U.S. already signed agreements that it would allow such observers.
The OSCE, twenty-two years ago, promulgated standards for free and fair elections, which the United States signed. The U.S. agreed “to respect the right of citizens to seek political or public office, individually or as representatives of political parties or organizations, without discrimination.” The U.S. already agreed to “respect the right of individuals and groups to establish, in full freedom, their own political parties or other political organizations and provide such political parties and organizations with the necessary legal guarantees to enable them to compete with each other on a basis of equal treatment before the law and by the authorities.” Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.