Skip to main content

See also:

They're heeeere: UN partner OSCE monitoring United States elections

Factcheck: UN Monitoring of US Elections
Factcheck: UN Monitoring of US Elections
infowars,com

As Election Day 2012 fast approaches, rumors abound that the United Nations has dispatched representatives to the U.S. to monitor for voter fraud.

Truth or fiction?

Truth. But the story is bigger and runs deeper than one might imagine.

Members of the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, the ACLU and other organizations met during The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights on Tuesday, April 17, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Afterwards, a letter was released by attendees, directed to the U.N., which stated in part:

“Election observation is an important function of our democratic process and serves as an additional means of protecting the rights of those who are most likely to be disenfranchised and least able to advocate for their right to vote. To that end, we believe it is particularly important that safeguards, including election monitoring, are in place in key areas around the country, and believe your presence would be particularly critical in districts in Colorado, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.”

This request was made by the very organizations that continue to fight against Voter ID laws intended to cut down on voter fraud. The ACLU, for example, refers to such laws as “discriminatory.”

Conservatives, who have championed requisite voter ID as a vital means to monitor elections, cannot help but note that the states singled out for monitoring by U.N. partner, the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, are swing states and/or states that are traditionally a threat to Democrats.

As reported by The Hill, the OSCE will be specifically looking for “voter suppression activities by conservative groups.” Verifiable discrimination, anyone?

What may come as a surprise to many voters is that the OSCE has been monitoring U.S. elections for quite some time.

The OSCE, a "United Nations partner,” have been observing our elections since 2002. Their office for Election 2012 officially opened in the US October 9, 2012. According to OSCE, they are here by invitation of the US:

“WASHINGTON D.C., 9 October 2012 The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) today officially opened an election observation mission for the general elections to be held in the United States on 6 November.

The limited election observation mission's deployment follows an invitation from the authorities of the United States. As a participating State in the OSCE, the United States has committed itself to conducting elections in line with OSCE standards and inviting international election observers. ODIHR has assessed elections in the United States since 2002.

The mission is led by Ambassador Daan Everts and consists of 13 international experts based in Washington D.C. and 44 long-term observers to be deployed throughout the country. The observers are drawn from 23 OSCE participating States. The mission began its activities on 4 October.”

OSCE’s Limited Election Observation Mission in summary:

  • Head of Mission: Ambassador Daan Everts (Netherlands)
  • 13 core team experts from 10 participating States, based in Washington D.C.
  • 44 long-term observers, deployed throughout the country

Mission schedule:

  • 9 October: Opening press conference
  • 12 October: Deployment of long-term observers
  • 6 November: Election day
  • 7 November: Press conference on preliminary findings and conclusions

GOP USA responded to the controversy with a very pointed comment:

“This is absolutely crazy. These so-called civil rights groups sure had no problem when Black Panthers were intimidating voters at polling locations. Yet, they are now concerned about voter suppression?”

“And of all groups to be involved… the U.N.? These are the guys who put terrorist nations on the Human Rights Committee. The U.N. also has absolutely NO jurisdiction over American elections, so why don’t they find something better to do.”

Another surprise, to many if not most voters: Election monitoring is, in fact, legal—with conditions.

According to The United States Department of Justice:

“The Voting Rights Act provides for the appointment of federal observers by order of a federal court pursuant to Section 3(a), or, with regard to political subdivisions covered under Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, upon the certification by the Attorney General, pursuant to Section 8 (previously Section 6). A total of 152 counties and parishes in 10 states have been certified by the Attorney General: Alabama (22 counties), Alaska (1) Arizona (4), Georgia (29), Louisiana (12), Mississippi (51), New York (3), North Carolina (1), South Carolina (11), South Dakota (1) and Texas (18).”

And herein lies the main point of Conservative contention: The OSCE is not made up of U.S. federal personnel and was not appointed via due process by a federal court. It is an international organization partnered with the United Nations, which has no jurisdiction over elections in this country.

There is no question that voter fraud is a problem that manifests in many different ways. Voter ID laws are a part of the answer to this problem. Unlawful intervention from non-U.S. citizens has no lawful place in our democratic process.

Be outraged. Be very outraged.

*Note: Texas and Iowa fight back...

*Interesting side-note: A search of the North Carolina State Board of Elections site turned up NO RESULTS for the following terms: U.N. monitors, voting monitors, United Nations, OSCE, not even voter fraud, among others.

Comments