Description of Electoral System:

(courtesy of IFES election guide)

The Supreme Leader is appointed by the Assembly of Experts. In the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami)
290 members are elected by popular vote to serve 4-year terms (changed from 270 seats with the 18 February 2000 election).

Electoral Systems Snapshot

(Courtesy of International IDEA)

*Click on links for definitions

WANT MORE ELECTION RELATED STATS FOR IRAN? Go to "election databases" on the left-hand menu of this page OR comparative data on the right-hand menu and choose your area of interest.

Politics of Iran

(courtesy of wikipedia)

Politics and Government of Iran takes place in the framework of a republic with Islamist Ideology. The December 1979 constitution, and its 1989 amendment, define the political, economic, and social order of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It declares that Shi'a Islam of the Jaafari (Usuli) school of thought is Iran's official religion.

Most Recent Elections

(courtesy of wikipedia)

Legislative elections for the Majlis of Iran were held on 14 March 2008, with a second round held on 25 April 2008.

Some 4,500 candidates nationwide were running for parliament's 290 seats vote, in which an estimated 44 million Iranians of over 18 years of age were eligible to vote.

With less than two-thirds of the 290 contests decided by March 15, conservatives had won 125 seats, reformers won 35 and independents won 10, according to news agency Fars. Another 39 winners were independents whose political leanings were not immediately known. Five other seats dedicated to Iran's Jewish, Zoroastrian and Christian minorities have been decided.

82 seats in which no candidate gained more than 25% of the vote in the first round held another round of voting on 25 April 2008; 11 of those seats were in Teheran. Of the 164 candidates, 69 are considered to be Conservative, 41 Reformists and 54 as Independents. Turnout in the second round was only about 25%.