Voting for the 14th term presidential elections in Iran began at 08:00 local time. Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian, conservative candidates Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalbaf, former Supreme National Security Council Secretary General Saeed Jalili and former Interior Minister Mustafa Purmuhammedi are running in the elections. Voting will end at 18:00 unless the deadline is extended.
KHAMANEI USED HIS VOTE
Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cast his vote at the ballot box set up in the hall of Imam Khomeini’s House, where he holds his receptions in Tehran.
BALLOT BOXES WERE ESTABLISHED IN TURKEY TOO
Iranians living in Turkey will also vote at 8 different ballot boxes set up in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Erzurum, Trabzon and Van. The voting process, which begins at 08:00 in the morning, will end at 18:00. It was stated that the election period could be extended if there is a high turnout.
Iranians who voted in the ballot box set up in the meeting hall of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Van said that they were very hopeful in this election.
Van Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President Fevzi Çeliktaş said that a very important election was held in the Islamic Republic of Iran today, that voting was carried out in 8 ballot boxes set up in 7 cities in Turkey for this election, and that they were hosting it as a chamber.
THERE ARE 62 MILLION VOTERS
According to the data from the Election Center of the Ministry of Interior, approximately 62 million voters in the country with a population of 88 million will be able to vote at ballot boxes set up in more than 59 thousand centers. In addition, Iranian citizens abroad will be able to go to the polls at election centers set up in 95 countries.
The voting process, which starts at 08.00 local time, will end at 18.00, but this period can be extended, if necessary, by the decision of the Election Center affiliated with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian, conservative candidates Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalbaf, former National Security Supreme Council Secretary General Said Jalili and former Interior Minister Mustafa Purmuhammedi are running in the elections.
Conservative candidates Tehran Mayor Ali Reza Zakani and Emir Hossein Qadizadehashimi withdrew their candidacy hours before the election “to ensure unity in the conservative wing.”
50 PERCENT+1 CONDITION
In order to be elected in the first round, candidates must receive 50+1 percent of the vote. If no candidate exceeds 50+1 percent in the first round, the 2 candidates who receive the most votes will advance to the second round, and the winner of the second round to be held on July 5 will be the 9th President of the country.
Initial data on election results are expected to be released at midnight and final results are expected to be announced tomorrow.
In Iran, the president serves for 4 years and can be elected a maximum of 2 times in a row.
REFORMIST CANDIDATE PEZEŞKİYAN IS AHEAD IN THE POLLS
Finally, in the public opinion poll conducted face-to-face by the Iranian Students Survey Agency (ISPA) on June 26, with 3,589 people across the country, Pezeshkian came first with 33.1 percent, Jalili came second with 28.8 percent, and the other conservative candidate, Mohammed. Bakır Kalibaf ranked third with 19.1 percent.
Masoud Pezeshkian
According to surveys, Pezeshkian received a higher percentage of votes than other candidates in regions where Turkish, Kurdish and Baluch citizens are concentrated. (AA)
