...

Counting ballots starts in Iran elections

Politics Materials 27 February 2016 03:04 (UTC +04:00)
Counting of ballots cast in Iran's elections started as voting concluded after being extended five times due to the nation's massive turnout.
Counting ballots starts in Iran elections

Counting of ballots cast in Iran's elections started as voting concluded after being extended five times due to the nation's massive turnout, IRNA reported.

It is expected that part of results will be out on Saturday in minor cities and provinces but in the capital Tehran and other major cities it will be announced in coming days.

Elections were held for the tenth round of parliament and fifth round of the Assembly of Experts and doors at polling station closed at 23:45 o'clock local time in Tehran and a number of cities upon the decision of governorate generals of the provinces.

The voting time which was originally set for 18:00 hours local time was first extended for two hours to 20:00. Then it was extended for a second time to 21:00. But the overwhelming popular turnout prompted officials to extend the time once again to 22:00, 23:00, and 23:45.

Early reports by official sources said that about 28 million voters had cast their ballots by 21:00 o'clock local time.

Iranians went to the polls in over 1,063 constituencies for the fifth round of the Assembly of Experts and the 10th parliamentary elections.

Polling started in Iran at 8 am local time (04:30 GMT) in over 52,000 polling stations nationwide.

Some 54,915, 024 Iranians were eligible to participate in the voting.

Currently, the Parliament has 290 representatives fourteen of whom represent non-Muslim religious minorities. Women constitute about eight percent of the Parliament members.

A total of 4,844 hopefuls, including about 500 women, who were qualified from amongst 12,000 registered candidates by the Guardian Council, were taking part in the race to occupy parliamentary seats. At least 21 people vied for each seat in the legislature.

The elected candidates will serve from May 3, 2016 for a four-year term.
In the capital Tehran, more than 1,000 candidates were competing for just 30 parliamentary seats.

The Assembly of Experts will also see its 88 members elected by the people for another eight-year term.

Latest

Latest