Iran starts counting ballots in runoff vote

Iran starts counting ballots in runoff vote

Iran has started counting ballots cast in the second round of legislative elections.

 According to Mohammad Hossein Moqisimi, the head of Interior Ministry's Election Committee, the counting process started as soon as voting ended in different constituencies in nearly all of the 21 provinces across the country.

The elections were held in 55 constituencies in the country.

As many as 136 candidates ran for constituencies where candidates failed to obtain the required minimum 25 percent of votes cast during the first round

Around 17 million people were eligible to vote in the run-off elections.

There was no run-off vote in the capital, Tehran, where Reformists and independents won all 30 seats during February's elections.

The economy found center stage during campaigning by candidates.

 On February 26, Iranians voted in twin elections to choose members of the Majlis and Assembly of Experts.

Iranian election authorities put the turnout at 62 percent, with at least 33 million out of the 55 million eligible voters taking part in the two votes.

The new parliament is scheduled to begin its session on May 27.

Addressing Iranian and foreign reporters in a presser in Tehran in early March, President Hassan Rouhani said that the Iranian nation once again amazed the world by their recent massive electoral participation.

It is noteworthy that Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic had managed to organize the first historic referendum immediately after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Imam Khomeini through his speeches and messaged stressed on promoting democratic values and sought mass participation of public in political, social and cultural arenas.

Iran has held several presidential, parliamentary and elections of the Assembly of Experts over the past decades.

 

 

 

Send To Friend