AUSTIN (October 26, 2012)--International voting monitors say they’re puzzled by arrest threats from Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and point out that the state didn't make any fuss when they were here for the 2008 elections.

Abbott is warning the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe that its poll watchers face criminal charges if they come too close to voting sites and the U.S. State Department has even been dragged into the fray.

OSCE spokesman Thomas Rymer said Friday that its polling monitors were present in San Antonio in 2008 without issue.

He said the organization is stationing four pairs of observers in Texas, California, New York and Florida, the states with the most electoral votes.

Abbott says he's leery because OSCE has met with groups that oppose voter ID initiatives.