Friday’s parliamentary elections in Iran, held against a backdrop of economic challenges and political restrictions, were marked by what appears to be an unprecedented level of voter boycott, with early indicators pointing to the lowest turnout since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Overshadowed both by internal strife following the nationwide uprisings sparked by the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, and external troubles, notably regional tensions with Israel over the war in Gaza, the elections were held under the watchful eyes of both domestic and international observers.
On Friday, as Iranians went to the polls to elect their representatives to parliament and the Assembly of Experts, whose role is to oversee the Supreme Leader, the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei himself stressed the importance of voting, describing it as a ‘religious duty’ and urging citizens to turn out early. Despite this, the voting process, originally scheduled to run from 08:00 to 18:00 local time, was extended until midnight due to a significantly low turnout.
Preliminary reports from Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, suggest that around 25 million out of more than 61 million eligible voters cast their ballots, representing a turnout of around 41 percent. However, civil society organisations inside Iran have reported significantly lower figures, suggesting that turnout did not exceed 25%, with some estimates as low as eight percent, based on data from nearly 2,000 polling stations in 215 cities.
The conservatives appear to have secured all 30 seats in Tehran, although the reported turnout in the capital and the number of votes received by the leading candidates suggest a complex picture of voter engagement. Mahmoud Nabavian, the frontrunner in Tehran, is reported to have received only 120,000 votes, a figure that raises questions about the overall turnout and the prevalence of spoiled ballots.
The election has been closely watched internationally, not only for its political results, but also as a reflection of the Iranian people’s discontent with their government. Amid widespread frustration and calls for boycotts from reformist organisations, the low voter turnout can be interpreted as a significant indicator of public disenchantment.
In particular, the election saw Kurds win a significant number of seats in the Rojhilat province of Urmia. Umer Elipur’s victory in Maku was a significant milestone, as he was the first Kurdish candidate to win in the city.
As final results are awaited, with some cities already reporting results, the focus remains on the official voter turnout and the wider implications of these elections for Iran’s political development. The election of Ebrahim Raisi, who secured a significant majority in South Khorasan province, to the Assembly of Experts, underlines the continued influence of established political figures in a climate of wider political and social discontent.
Elections, held every four years for the parliament and every eight years for the Assembly of Experts, serve as a critical mechanism for political renewal and representation in Iran. But this year’s unprecedentedly low turnout signals a strong message from the Iranian public, reflecting deep-seated frustrations and a call for change that goes beyond the ballot box.
