40 Million Expected to Cast Votes in Iran Election: Official

The Interior Ministry’s director general for political affairs, Mohammad-Amin Rezazadeh, says among the positive features of Iran’s May 19 elections is that none of the country’s political trends and parties have boycotted the votes and all of them will take part in them at full capacity.

According to a report by IFP, he said given the intense competition between the country’s two major political factions – conservative and reformist parties – 40 million people (70 percent of the total number of the Iranians eligible to vote) are anticipated to cast their votes in the elections.

“Iran ranks among the world’s top countries in terms of turnout in its elections. Iranians have always shown they understand the special international and regional conditions and have managed to pass their tests [through their maximum turnout in the previous elections].”

According to Rezazadeh, 34 elections have so far been held in Iran. The average turnout in Iranian elections stands at 67.7 percent. Average turnout in the past 11 editions of the country’s presidential votes is 66.7 percent. People’s average turnout in the previous editions of city and village councils election also amounts to more than 60.5 percent.

Iran’s presidential and City and Village Councils elections are going to be held on Friday, May 19.