Info

Iran, Islamic Republic of

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Boundary Delimitation

BD001

Delimitation of constituencies

Question:	Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:	b. No, existing regional/provincial/other boundaries are used
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy in Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Question:	On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):	a. "Equality" of population e. Geographic size of district
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy in Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Question:	The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):	a. Legislature (1st chamber)
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy in Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

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Electoral Systems

ES001

Head of State

Question:	How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):	h. Other
Comments:	The task of appointing the Leader shall be vested with the experts elected by the people. The experts will review and consult among themselves concerning all the 'fuqaha' possessing the qualifications specified in Articles 5 and 109 (of the Constitution). In the event they find one of them better versed in Islamic regulations, the subjects of the fiqh, or in political and social issues, or possessing general popularity or special prominence for any of the qualifications mentioned in Article 109, they shall elect him as the Leader. Otherwise, in the absence of such a superiority, they shall elect and declare one of them as the Leader. The Leader thus elected by the Assembly of Experts shall assume all the powers of the 'wilayat al-amr' and all the responsibilities arising therefrom.
Source:	Constitution, art. 107-109
Verified:	2009/10/28

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	b. Directly elected in general elections, absolute majority (with 2nd round if necessary)
Comments:	After the office of Leadership, the President is the highest official in the country. His is the responsibility for implementing the Constitution and acting as the head of the executive, except in matters directly concerned with (the office of) the Leadership. The President is elected by an absolute majority of votes polled by the voters. But if none of the candidates is able to win such a majority in the first round, voting will take place a second time on Friday of the following week. In the second round only the two candidates who received greatest number of votes in the first round will participate. If, however, some of the candidates securing greatest votes in the first round withdraw from the elections, the final choice will be between the two candidates who won greater number of votes than all the remaining candidates.
Source:	Constitution, art. 113 & 117
Verified:	2009/10/28

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, art. 113-132
Verified:	2009/10/28

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	a. One chamber
Comments:	The Islamic Consultative Assembly
Source:	Constitution, art. 62-63 Elections Act, art. 2
Verified:	2009/10/28

ES005

Electoral System (Chamber 1)

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	d. Two-Round System
Comments:	The election of a member in the first stage is subject to obtaining the majority of at least one forth of total votes (one third in the previous Majles) and in the second stage as well as middle-period elections, the pro rata majority. If in the first stage of the elections, one or more candidates do no succeed to obtain the majority of one fourth (Previously one third) of the cast votes, the elections will be held in two stages. This means that from those candidates who did not obtain the quorum of one forth of the votes, but the highest votes of the first stage, only two times of the required number of the Parliament members can take part in the second stage of elections. If the number of remained candidates are less than two times of required members, all of them will take part in the elections of second stage.
Source:	Elections Act, art. 8-9
Verified:	2009/10/28

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Legislative Framework

LF001

Status of Electoral Law

Question:	What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Part of Constitution b. Separate legislation
Comments:
Source:	Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran Elections Act of Islamic Consultative Assembly
Verified:	2009/10/28

LF003

Electoral Law covers

Question:	The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):	a. National elections c. Local elections
Comments:
Source:	Elections Act of Islamic Consultative Assembly (1999), article 1
Verified:	2007/01/23

LF004

Compulsory/voluntary voting

Question:	Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):	a. Voting is voluntary
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

LF007

Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)

Question:	What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):	a. Judiciary
Comments:	The competent judiciary courts are obliged to arbitrate the elections crimes and violations, extraordinarily.
Source:	Elections Act, art. 17
Verified:	2009/10/28

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Electoral Management

EM001

Please provide the following contact information for the national electoral management body:

Name of Institution: Ministry of Interior - Executive Board of Election
Website Address: www.moir.ir

Source

No Source

Verified

2009/11/04

(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)

EM002

Responsibility of national EMB

Question:	Does the national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
Answer(s):	a. National level c. Local level
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy in Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

EM004

EMB budget determined by

Question:	The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy in Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

EM005

EMB expenditures controlled by

Question:	The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature e. Another organ within the national government
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy in Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

EM006

Term of EMB members

Question:	The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:	f. Not applicable
Comments:
Source:	Electoral Management Design: The International IDEA Handbook (http://www.idea.int/publications/emd/upload/EMD_Annex_A.pdf)
Verified:	2009/11/04

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Voter Education

VE001

Information campaigns performed by

Question:	Who conducts information campaigns for national elections (informing where, when and how to register and/or vote)?
Answer(s):	i. Media
Comments:	Elections Act of Islamic Consultative Assembly, article 14: "IRI Broadcasting is obliged to broadcast all the declarations and notices of elections as well as elections training programs at the discretion of the Ministry of the Interior, in addition to display the Parliament role and members' duties."
Source:	Elections Act of Islamic Consultative Assembly, article 14
Verified:	2007/01/23

VE002

Frequency of voter education programs

Question:	At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:	b. Election time only
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

VE003

National civic education

Question:	Is there a national civic education campaign (rights and responsibilities of citizens)?
Answer(s):	a. No
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

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Voter Registration

VR001

Voting age

Question:	What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:	c. 18
Comments:
Source:	Elections Act, art. 27 (Amendment 2006)
Verified:	2009/10/28

VR002

Other voting requirements

Question:	Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Citizenship e. Other
Comments:	The electors shall hold the following particulars: Iranian Nationality, 18 years of age (Previously 17), Sound of mind
Source:	Elections Act, art. 27
Verified:	2009/10/28

VR004

Body responsible for voter registration

Question:	Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:	a. Central Government Department (specify)
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

VR008

Compulsory voter registration

Question:	Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

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Voting Operations

VO003

Electors vote at

Question:	Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):	d. At specially designated polling stations
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

VO004

Voting outside the country is permitted for

Question:	Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):	c. Citizens outside the country (including those on vacation)
Comments:	c) Applies to presidential elections.
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

VO005

Locations for voting outside of the country

Question:	If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):	a. Embassies b. Consulates c. Special polling stations
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

VO011

Voting method

Question:	How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):	a. Manually marking of ballots
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

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Parties and Candidates

PC001

Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	d. No registration required
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

PC003

Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Age b. Citizenship h. Minimum level of education j. Other
Comments:	The candidates shall hold the following particulars when they are nominated: 1. Believing and practically binding to the Islamic Republic of Iran 2. Iranian Nationality 3. Binding to the Constitutions and Absolute Religious Guardianship 4. Holding at least Associate Degree of its equivalent 5. Having no bad reputation in the elections station 6. Physical Health at the extent of being able to see, hear and speak 7. At least aged 26 and at most aged 75 The religious minorities candidates are not obliged to believe in Islam but their own religion.
Source:	Elections Act, art. 28 (amended 2006)
Verified:	2009/10/28

PC008

Independent candidates

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	e. In both presidential and legislative elections
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

PC012

Public funding of parties

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	c. Indirect
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

PC015

Basis of public funding

Question:	What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):	f. No information available
Comments:
Source:
Verified:	2007/01/23

PC017

Private funding of parties

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

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Vote Counting

VC004

Voters are sorted/counted at

Question:	Following the close of the voting, where are the votes first sorted and counted?
Answer:	a. The polling stations
Comments:	Votes are also counted at the polling centre.
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2009/11/04

VC011

Conditions for recount

Question:	Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):	d. By request
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2009/11/04

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Media and Elections

ME037

Parties receive free broadcast time based on

Question:	What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):	b. Based on number of candidates put forward in present elections
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

ME059

Existence of televised debates

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	a. Yes, in presidential elections
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

ME062

Blackout period for opinion polls

Question:	What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:	g. No information available
Comments:
Source:	Ministry of Interior through Iran's Embassy to Sweden
Verified:	2007/01/23

ME080

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Direct Democracy

DD002

Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	C:59 "In extremely important economic, political, social, and cultural matters, the functions of the legislature may be exercised through direct recourse to popular vote through a referendum. Any request for such direct recourse to public opinion must be approved by two-thirds of the members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly." C:123 "The President is obliged to sign legislation approved by the Assembly or the result of a referendum, after the legal procedures have been completed and it has been communicated to him. After signing, he must forward it to the responsible authorities for implementation." C:177 "(1) The revision of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, whenever needed by the circumstances, will be done in the following manner: The Leader issues an edict to the President after consultation with the Nation's Exigency Council stipulating the amendments or additions to be made by the Council for Revision of the Constitution which consists of: [...] (3) The decisions of the Council, after the confirmation and signatures of the Leader, shall be valid if approved by an absolute majority vote in a national referendum. (4) The provisions of Article 59 shall not apply to the referendum for the "Revision of the Constitution."
Source:	The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, art. 59, 123 and 177 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	C:59 "In extremely important economic, political, social, and cultural matters, the functions of the legislature may be exercised through direct recourse to popular vote through a referendum. Any request for such direct recourse to public opinion must be approved by two-thirds of the members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly." C:123 "The President is obliged to sign legislation approved by the Assembly or the result of a referendum, after the legal procedures have been completed and it has been communicated to him. After signing, he must forward it to the responsible authorities for implementation." C:177 "(1) The revision of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, whenever needed by the circumstances, will be done in the following manner: The Leader issues an edict to the President after consultation with the Nation's Exigency Council stipulating the amendments or additions to be made by the Council for Revision of the Constitution which consists of: [...] (3) The decisions of the Council, after the confirmation and signatures of the Leader, shall be valid if approved by an absolute majority vote in a national referendum. (4) The provisions of Article 59 shall not apply to the referendum for the "Revision of the Constitution."
Source:	The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, art. 59, 123 and 177 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2006/12/22

DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD007

Recalls (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD129

Binding referenda

Question:	Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:	a. Always binding
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD130

National referenda deal with

Question:	Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:	c. Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD131

Direct Democracy at sub-national level

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23