Iranian citizens, officials cast their votes for presidential election

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
28 Jun 2024 17:24

Al Mayadeen correspondents in Iran confirm that the process is running smoothly, as the country receives voters in more than 58,000 polling stations.

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A woman fills out her ballot during the Iranian presidential election in a polling station in northern Tehran, Iran, on June 28, 2024 (AP)

Iranians are currently in the midst of selecting the 9th president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as they head to polling stations to cast their votes.

This is the 14th presidential election held in the country since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and will see the successor of late President martyr Ebrahim Raisi, who tragically passed away in a helicopter crash alongside several other officials on May 19.

58,640 polling stations have been available to voters within the country, as well as 340 polling stations in more than 95 countries around the world. Iranians will get to vote for one of four candidates who are still in the race, including Saeed Jalili, Mostafa Pour Mohammadi, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, and Masoud Pezeshkian.

Iranian leader, officials, candidates cast their votes

The leader of the Revolution Sayyed Ali Khamenei was among those who cast their votes in the Hussainiyah of Imam Khomeini in Tehran.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, Sayyed Khamenei emphasized that election day is a time of activity and enthusiasm in Iran, especially as it is the presidential election, urging Iranians to turn out to vote as a "definite necessity" for their country.

"In the essence of this system, the presence of the people is taken into account. Also, the durability of the Islamic Republic and its honor and reputation in the world depend on the presence of the people," he said.

Masoud Pezeshekian, Saeed Jalili, and Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf also cast their votes in polling stations in Tehran, as high-ranking officials, such as the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps' (IRGC) Quds Force Brigadier General Esmail Qaani chose his preferred candidate in Mashhad.

The Jamkaran Mosque in Qom is also the site of a polling station, where IRGC Brigadier General Ali Reza Tansksiri cast his own vote.

Tansksiri told reporters that the popular participation in the election is "a valiant defense of the country and the honor of our people and the Islamic Republic."

In this context, the Iranian interim president Mohammad Mokhber said that the electoral process and participation in the election are "robust,"

"My observations from visits to different stations confirm that there is robust participation in the electoral process," he said.

Iran reassures voters of security during election

On his part, the Interior Minister, Ahmad Vahidi, reassured the Iranian people that the election will be held in complete safety, stressing that authorities are keen on ensuring security.

Al Mayadeen's correspondents in Iran reported on the proceedings in the polling stations and centers, including that in Isfahan where modern equipment to verify the identities of voters was put in place.

In Shiraz, our correspondent confirmed that the electoral process is running smoothly, transparently, and accurately, pointing to the advanced logistical standards made available in the city's polling stations.

28 polling stations were opened in the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, which witnessed heavy turnout, stressing that the process is running properly.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Mashhad also said that the observers affiliated with the Guardian Council reported that no objections, problems, or complaints have been registered since the opening of the ballot boxes.