Michael Link and Urszula Gacek (left) meet with Ben Cardin, Steve Cohen and Roger Wicker (right) in Washington, 1 March 2022WASHINGTON, 3 March 2022 – An OSCE delegation comprising two leaders of the international election observation mission to the United States in 2020 have wrapped up a follow-up visit to Washington, DC.

Michael Link, who served as Special Co-ordinator for the OSCE short-term observers for the 2020 elections in the United States, was in the US capital this week together with Urszula Gacek, who headed the ODIHR observers, to discuss responses to recommendations emanating from the observation mission.

With a focus on recommendations from the ODIHR Final Report on the elections, the delegation met with senior officials including Senators Ben Cardin and Roger Wicker, and Representatives Steve Cohen and Joe Wilson from the Helsinki Commission, as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Douglas Jones, and others.

Interlocutors expressed their appreciation for the OSCE’s work in observing the elections and took good note of key recommendations from the mission. Acknowledging the decentralized system in the United States, Link and Gacek particularly highlighted the importance of international observers having access to all stages of the electoral process, including in polling stations.

For more information on OSCE PA election observation activities in the United States, please click here.