PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - Two representatives of a European-based organization are traveling in North Dakota and South Dakota to observe the election process in the two states.

Vsevolod Perevoz-chikov of Moscow and Pierre Gros of Fountainebleau, France, are part of a team of 47 people observing the U.S. election in 40 states for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

The organization, with 56 participating nations from Europe, Asia and North America, deals with security issues that include preventing conflicts, building democracy, controlling military arms and promoting economic growth and environmental protection. The United States takes part in the organization.

The two observers said they cannot discuss specifics of what they are studying.

But Gros said election observers seek to understand the election process in each state, determine the risk of voting fraud and study voting machines.

Perevozchikov said observers also are looking at candidates' access to the media and the level of free information available to voters. Observers are studying issues related to Native American voters in the Dakotas, he said.

"Obviously the issue of the equality of voting rights of the people is the issue the observer is supposed to study," Perevozchikov said.

The two have spent time in North Dakota and have talked with people involved in South Dakota's political process, including Secretary of State Chris Nelson.

The U.S. and other nations have been sending election observers to Eastern European nations that have fledgling democracies, and the OSCE now has decided it will observe U.S. elections, Nelson said.

"As I visited with the gentlemen the other day, one was very blunt and he said, 'We want to know if you're running a corrupt election.' I assured him we were not, and we take great pride and work very hard to make sure our elections are free and fair and well run," Nelson said.

Nelson said he told Perevozchikov and Gros they are free to visit with anybody in South Dakota and that such conversations will help show the state has fair elections. He also suggested places the two could visit on Election Day.

Perevozchikov and Gros have spent time in Pierre and are visiting the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Indian reservations before the election. They also attended a training session given to election workers.

The two have been in the U.S. for about two weeks. On Election Day, Perevozchikov and Gros plan to start in Pierre, visit polling places on the Cheyenne River and Standing Rock reservations and then go to Bismarck, N.D.

An interim report covering the 40 states in which OSCE observers have been working indicates the observers have found that a wealth of information about the candidates and the elections is disseminated in a competitive environment. The report said voter registration issues have sometimes been contentious, and an increase in registered voters raises questions about the capacity of polling stations.

In addition, lawsuits across the nation have involved challenges to voter identification laws and the maintenance of voter registration lists, the report said.

Nelson said the OSCE has sent observers to other states before, but this is the first time they have visited North Dakota and South Dakota.

"Do I think we need a Russian and a Frenchman evaluating how well we run elections in America? The answer is no. But that's my opinion. They can be here and observe if they want to," the South Dakota secretary of state said. "But we're going to run a good election whether they're here or not."