TEHRAN - Election fever filled the air in cities and villages across Iran on Friday as citizens headed to polls in snap presidential elections while still mourning the sudden passing of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. 

More than 61 million Iranians were eligible to vote for one of the four candidates, Masoud Pezeshkian, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Saeed Jalili, and Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. Although the exact voter turnout rate is yet to be determined, initial reports indicate a substantial increase in participation compared to the 2021 presidential elections, where the turnout was around 50%.

To ensure widespread access to the ballot box, Iranian authorities deployed over 58,000 polling stations throughout the country. This extensive network allowed citizens in all corners of Iran, from mountainous regions to remote islands and arid deserts, to exercise their right to vote. Additionally, approximately 344 polling stations were established in foreign countries, enabling Iranian citizens residing abroad to participate in the election process.

The spokesman for Iran’s Guardian Council, the body responsible for vetting the candidates, hailed the June 28 elections as a testament to the efficiency and effectiveness of Iranian governance. “Few countries can organize and conduct snap elections in less than 40 days, especially in such an orderly manner. This only proves the strength of the Islamic Republic and the efficacy of the Iranian constitution,” Tahan Nazif said during a press conference. 

The call for snap elections occurred after President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and six others lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Iran’s northwestern mountainous region on May 19. Iran’s Constitution stipulates that a new president should be elected by public votes within a maximum of 50 days from the day when a president dies or is incapacitated.

Who is likely to win the Iranian presidential elections?

While it is still impossible to predict the results of the snap elections, one thing seems to be clear: competition is tight between the two conservative candidates and one reformist hopeful and Pourmohammadi who is believed to hold moderate views has very little chance of emerging victorious. 

Some analysts were hoping to see an alliance between Qalibaf and Jalili before Friday’s vote, where one of the two would withdraw in favor of the other. 

Unverified reports indicate that several meetings were held between the two contenders with the presence of prominent figures and politicians to reach a consensus in recent days. Much to the dismay of the conservative faction, no results seemed to follow through, as both hopefuls decided to remain in the competition. 

With all reformist figures having rallied behind Pezeshkian, analysts suggest the elections will be heading to a run-off, either with the presence of Pezeshkian and Qalibaf, or Pezeshkian and Jalili. 

By Soheila Zarfam