Iran election: turnout sinks to record low as polls close – The Daily Guardian
The recent parliamentary elections in Iran have sparked controversy and raised concerns about the legitimacy of the results, as the country saw a record low turnout of only 40.6%. This turnout fell below officials’ initial predictions of a turnout above the 42.5% recorded in the last parliamentary elections in 2020.
Despite polling hours being extended, the total number of participants was only 24,861,542. Many reformist candidates were disqualified from standing in the elections, leading to claims of a sham election. As a result, hardliners are expected to tighten their grip on parliament and other bodies.
The current President of Iran, Raisi, who is a hardliner, has been moving the country towards a more pro-Russian and anti-Western stance. Internal phone surveys indicated that a majority of the population did not intend to vote in the elections.
There are also concerns about the accuracy of the turnout results being published, as social media has suggested that invalid votes may be counted. The regime has taken actions to quell any boycott movements, including identifying and arresting “virtual page operators.”
In a related development, an Iranian court has sentenced Grammy winner Shervin Hajipour to nearly four years in prison for charges including “propaganda against the establishment” and “encouraging and provoking the public to riot to disrupt national security.”
Overall, the low turnout and controversies surrounding the parliamentary elections have raised questions about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process in Iran.
