Voting is underway in Iran as the country conducts its first elections since the 2022 anti-government protests. Friday’s elections are viewed as a critical test of legitimacy and national support for Iran’s leadership, but expectations for a low turnout loom large.
The elections come amidst widespread voter apathy, fueled by a period of unrest following the death of a young woman detained by morality police for wearing an “improper” hijab. Despite over 61.2 million eligible voters, a significant portion of the population is expected to abstain from casting ballots.
It is pertinent to note that two separate polls are being held in Iran: one to elect members of parliament and another to elect members of the Assembly of Experts. The latter selects and oversees Iran’s supreme leader, who holds considerable power in key decision-making processes.
Encouraging voter participation, current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged citizens to exercise their voting rights, emphasizing that refraining from voting “would not solve anything.”
According to media reports, Iran voting projections indicate a potential 41% turnout for the parliamentary elections, marking the lowest participation in the past 12 such ballots.
The backdrop
The backdrop of the elections is marked by lingering discontent stemming from the 2022 protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. Iran’s harsh response to the protests, resulting in numerous casualties and arrests, has left many Iranians disillusioned with the government.
This year, despite a record number of candidates approved to stand for parliament, only a handful hail from the reformist camp. Reformists have criticized the elections as “meaningless, non-competitive, unfair, and ineffective in the administration of the country,” underscoring the deep-seated dissatisfaction among segments of the Iranian populace.
