Iran’s presidential election concluded with a significant boycott by the population. In his final appeal to the people, Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei emphasized the importance of participating in the presidential election for the regime’s survival, continuity, and reputation. Despite extensive efforts to prevent a repeat of the low turnout seen in the parliamentary elections in March, a large portion of the Iranian populace chose not to participate in the election to select the successor to the late president Ebrahim Raisi.
The widespread boycott led to a notably low voter turnout. On Friday morning, Khamenei described voting as an “easy task” with substantial implications for the integrity and reputation of the Islamic Republic, urging participation despite widespread hesitation.
Reports from various sources indicated that Tehran and other cities did not exhibit the typical activity associated with an election. Many polling stations were reportedly empty or sparsely attended, with numerous eyewitness accounts corroborating this observation. In Isfahan, efforts were made to transport families of Basijis and IRGC members to polling stations. In Shahr-e Kord, mobile TV units were used to create the appearance of voting queues, and in Kerman, most stations saw minimal activity until noon.
The regime reportedly resorted to coercive measures, such as threatening prisoners with transfer to overcrowded and unsanitary conditions if they did not vote and offering soldiers leave as an incentive to participate. In some areas, security forces were deployed to prevent filming of the empty polling stations, though activists managed to capture and share footage.
Journalists invited to observe specific polling stations also noted the lackluster voter turnout. The situation attracted international attention, with the Washington Post reporting on June 28 that Iran faces multiple crises, including economic challenges, and quoting a Tehran resident who expressed distrust in the political system and skepticism about the value of voting.
