Second Round of Voting for the Islamic Republic's Candidates to Succeed Raisi Begins

The second round of voting among the two candidates favored by the Islamic Republic for succeeding Ebrahim Raisi began on Friday, July 15, in Iran. Reports circulating on social media regarding the election process in many cities indicate a lack of turnout and low voter engagement so far. Many political and civil society figures, along with numerous political prisoners, have labeled what the Islamic Republic calls an election as a 'circus' or 'show' and have called for a boycott. The United States has also not deemed the Islamic Republic's style of elections as fair and free. According to the government news agency 'IRNA,' Mohsen Islami, spokesperson for the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Interior's election headquarters, stated, 'We will try to announce the final results early on Saturday.' Meanwhile, videos released by the 'Civil Protest Market' channel from several polling stations in cities such as Tehran, Zahedan, Karaj, Kahnouj, Fuman, Ilam, Ahvaz, Isfahan, Bojnourd, Shahrekord, and Kermanshah show that eligible voters have not gone to the polls. '1500 images' were also published on the social media platform 'X' showing empty polling stations in Tehran, Shiraz, Marvdasht, Hashtgerd, Mashhad, and Dorud. Nevertheless, the spokesperson for the Islamic Republic's election headquarters claimed there were 'long lines to vote' at polling stations. Mohammad Mokhber, the head of the Islamic Republic's presidency, also claimed there were 'more voters.' Journalist Reza Hajihosseini reacted to Mokhber's claim on social media, writing: 'Translation: We are preparing to announce a larger number of participants in the second round of the '1403 elections.' In this context, the human rights organization 'Kurdpa' reported on Friday with photos and videos of the emptiness of polling stations in Sanandaj, Urmia, Piranshahr, Saqqez, Boukan, and Oshnavieh. According to this report, 'In addition to the emptiness of polling stations, most main streets in Sanandaj are deserted. Shops are closed, and very few people are present in the streets, with only government forces seen moving around.' This human rights organization stated on Thursday, July 14, that 'security agencies have pressured the families of political activists and the deceased to ensure their presence at the polls.' Kurdpa also reported that in Boukan, 'poor families receiving financial aid from the Welfare Organization and the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation are being forcibly taken to polling stations by minibus. These minibuses are also designated for the families of local government officials known as (Jash).' Kurdpa reported that households under the support of the Welfare Organization and the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation have been threatened via phone calls and text messages that their financial support will be cut off if they do not participate in the elections. Kurdpa also cited reports from the cities of Mahabad and Rabat, stating that 'households under the support of the Welfare Organization and the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation have been threatened via phone calls and text messages that their financial support will be cut off if they do not participate in the elections.' This human rights organization reported that 'this pressure and these threats have been observed in most cities of Kurdistan.' The second round of elections began under conditions where even according to government statistics, a vast majority of Iranians did not participate in the first round of voting, which opponents referred to as a 'circus' and 'show.' According to alleged official statistics, about 77% of eligible voters in Tehran and 60% of eligible voters across Iran did not participate in the elections, resulting in the lowest voter turnout in the history of the Islamic Republic's presidential elections. The statistics and figures from the Islamic Republic's government have always been seriously questioned and disputed by independent observers and sources, and many observers and civil and political activists believe that the number of voters in the first round of elections was lower than what the Islamic Republic claimed. Nevertheless, Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, stated on Friday while voting: 'I heard that the enthusiasm and interest of the people are greater than before. God willing, it is so.' On Wednesday, July 13, regarding the 60% non-participation rate in the first round of elections, he claimed: 'It is a completely mistaken perception to think that those who did not vote in the first round are opposed to the regime.' Khamenei had previously emphasized the importance of public participation, stating that 'high participation' would lead to the 'glory of the Islamic Republic.' Despite extensive propaganda for Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili, the two candidates approved by the Guardian Council of the Islamic Republic, many social media users, along with the families of victims and political activists, announced that they would not participate in this round of government voting. Opponents argue that there is 'no difference' between the two candidates favored by the Islamic Republic to succeed Raisi and consider participation in the government elections as 'voting for more killings and repression.' In the latest statements regarding the Islamic Republic's presidential elections, 'Daye Sharifeh,' the mother of Ramin Hossein Panahi, a political prisoner executed by the Islamic Republic, announced in a message: 'We have proven that united people can overcome the dictator, and there is a sea of blood between us and these criminals. We will not vote for the executioners of our children. Under the rule of the Islamic Republic, every vote means a bullet shot into the chests of our children.' Sepideh Gholian, a political prisoner in Evin Prison, also expressed hope for the downfall of the Islamic Republic, stating that 'participating in the sham elections' provides the government with an opportunity to present a 'face of false legitimacy.' Gholian, who is imprisoned in the women's ward of Evin Prison, emphasized: 'Participating in the Islamic Republic's sham elections gives it the opportunity to showcase participation images as a face of its false legitimacy, especially in international forums.' This imprisoned civil activist considered 'not voting under such conditions' as 'a form of civil resistance' that protests the lack of 'democratic mechanisms.' Also, Mohammad Nourizad, a political prisoner, called on the Iranian people to 'leave the monster of the Islamic Republic to itself' and to 'strike the ballot boxes over the heads of this demon and cancerous monster' by boycotting the government 'elections.' Amir Salar Davoodi, a lawyer also imprisoned in Evin, emphasized in a message that he 'did not and will not participate in this election, read appointments.' In this message, a copy of which was sent to Voice of America, it was emphasized: 'The Islamic Republic has shown that it follows no line other than lies and deception.' Jafar Panahi, a well-known filmmaker, also shared images of 'no' to the Islamic Republic's ballot box on his Instagram page, writing: 'The non-participation of at least 60% of the people in the first round of the presidential election has confronted the regime with the fear of illegitimacy' and 'the government is trying in every way to raise the participation rate in the second round of elections to cover up this historical defeat.' According to him, 'if this happens, the regime will gain an opportunity to renew its strength and reinforce its repressive structures, increasing its power by pressuring the people through the imposition of its lifestyle and the indoctrination of its archaic thoughts into the fabric of society.' Furthermore, Abolfazl Ghadyani, a political activist opposed to the Islamic Republic in Iran, reiterated his call for a 'boycott' of the elections and 'the change of the religious dictatorship ruling Iran.' In an article published on the 'Zeytoon' website, Ghadyani noted that the results of the 1403 presidential elections, like the last three elections, attest to the lack of acceptance and legitimacy of the Islamic Republic and its leader, Ali Khamenei. Previously, Prince Reza Pahlavi emphasized in an exclusive interview with Voice of America that the Iranian people have sent a message to both the Islamic Republic and the world that they will no longer participate in the election circus. He stressed that the destruction of this regime will definitely happen.