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Iran Has Voted


From Duetsche Presse Agentur:

The Experts' Assembly and municipality elections in Iran finished Friday after 12 hours, following a series of extensions.

Polling opened at 0530 GMT and was scheduled to end at 1530 GMT, but the interior ministry extended the time by another three hours owing to what it called 'numerous demands' by the people.

No disturbances were reported by the ministry, although the opposition group Etemad Melli (National Trust) claimed irregularities in polling stations in Tehran - which, however, could not be confirmed.

Will post results as soon as I see any.

Update: From MehrNews, which appears to be a semi-official media organization inside Iran seems to confirm the large turnout other media outlets have already reported:

The turnout in some cities was so high that there was a shortage of ballots. State television showed long queues of voters at some polling stations in different parts of the country, including the capital Tehran.

Whether this is good news for the Khatami/Rafsanjani Reformist block or not remains to be seen. Results are expected in 48 hours. Backgrounders here and here, which also confirms the heavy turnout. I tend to think heavy turnout leads to surprises. The last time Iran had a surprise heavy turnout was Khatami's election, if I recall correctly.


Sean Paul Kelley December 15, 2006 - 2:53pm
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I just have to pass on this

I just have to pass on this great article about the current Iranian elections from Asia Times -- the gist is that the true power struggle in this election is not between Ahmadinejad and the reformers but Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Khamenei and that Ahmadinejad will probably end up the loser. Here's the link:

http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HL16Ak07.html

GiantDuck December 16, 2006 - 1:09am
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I think that is a large part of it GiantDuck

but I think, especially in light of heavy voter turnout that we will see there is more to this story than we all thought. Time will tell. But that A-Times essay is a good one.

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance. This principle is, contempt prior to examination."

Sean Paul Kelley December 16, 2006 - 1:28am
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