TEHRAN -- Iranians voted on Friday in big numbers, dealing a blow to expectations of a low turnout by the country’s enemies which are looking for a fissure between the establishment and the people.
After voting in the capital Tehran just after the polls opened at 7:00 hours local time, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei urged Iranians to cast ballots, saying “each vote counts ... come and vote and choose your president”.
“Election Day is the day of the Iranian nation. Today, people are in charge,” Ayatollah Khamenei said. “Even one single vote counts. No one should say ‘What will my one vote do?’ These one votes become millions when combined.”
Ebrahim Raisi, 60, is the favorite to succeed Hassan Rouhani who is prevented under the constitution from serving a third four-year term in the post.
“I will vote (out of respect) for martyrs,” a young man said, referring to Iranians fallen in the line of action.
National television showed long queues outside polling stations in several cities. More than 59 million Iranians were eligible to vote. Polls were to close at 1930 GMT but they are extended for two hours. The results are expected around midday on Saturday.
Raisi’s main rival is former central bank governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, who claims a win for the judiciary chief will result in yet more sanctions imposed by outside powers – the same scare-mongering tactic which the reformist camp has adopted for years.
The winner will take over in August as Iran’s eighth president from President Rouhani.
Addressing the nation after casting his vote, Rouhani said Iran was among a few countries in the world whose elections attract international attention.
“People should be mindful that the whole world is today focused on the ballot boxes and the people’s queues to cast their votes. God willing, we will act in a way that it will make our friends across the world happy and frustrate enemies.”
Officials stressed that health protocols would be strictly observed in all polling stations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than 72,000 polling stations were set up countrywide, according to figures released by election officials. Around 3,500,000 Iranian expatriates were also eligible to vote in 234 polling stations set up in many countries.
City council, midterm parliamentary, and Assembly of Experts elections were held simultaneously with the presidential vote.
Abbas-Ali Kadkhodaee, the spokesman of Iran’s Constitutional Council, said no irregularities were reported in the voting process, “except for a delay in the start of the voting process at some polling stations due to a disruption in the ID system.”
“Through cooperation with colleagues at the Interior Ministry, the problem was resolved very quickly,” he said. “It was, however, decided that in case of any delay in the systems causing hardships for the people, the organizers and supervisors must make efforts to do the job manually and prevent any problems.”
Kaskhodaee said officials with the Constitutional Council — which oversees elections — closely monitored the voting process online.