Iran is currently holding its first elections since the 2022 anti-government protests, which saw significant unrest.
These elections are viewed as a crucial test of Iran’s leadership’s legitimacy and national support.
However, a low turnout is anticipated due to widespread voter apathy stemming from past events.
Over 61.2 million people are eligible to vote in two separate polls: one for the parliament and another for the Assembly of Experts, which plays a crucial role in selecting Iran’s supreme leader.
Despite calls from the current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to participate, many Iranians are hesitant.
State media has made efforts to boost enthusiasm by broadcasting numerous election specials and providing candidates with airtime.
Nonetheless, projections suggest a low turnout, with some estimates indicating a potential 41% participation rate in the parliamentary elections, the lowest in recent history.
The reluctance to vote can be attributed to the aftermath of the 2022 protests, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in custody, leading to a harsh government crackdown resulting in casualties, arrests, and discontent among the public.
This year, a record number of 15,200 candidates were approved to stand for the 290 seats in the parliamentary election – but only 30 were from the reformist camp.
Critics, including reformists, have labeled the elections as “meaningless, non-competitive, unfair, and ineffective.”
The United States has also criticized the electoral process, with spokesperson Matthew Miller highlighting concerns about Iran’s undemocratic and non-transparent systems.
Polling stations opened at 08:00 and are scheduled to close after 10 hours, although extensions have occurred in previous elections.
Source-BBC
