Iranian MP Warns Of Impact Of Low Voter Turnout On Future Elections

MP Jabar Kouchakinejad warned that the latest boycott of Iran’s elections will impact future polls as the government struggles to retain credibility.

Kouchakinejad, who was elected as the MP of the northern city of Rasht, attributed the decline in voter turnout to the perceived misconduct of government officials and parliamentarians.

“If not addressed promptly, the trend could pose significant challenges in the forthcoming 2025 presidential elections,” he cautioned in his Monday interview with Rouydad 24.

Rasht, Kuchakinejad's electoral district, recorded the lowest voter turnout nationwide on March 1, standing at a mere 22%.

“The lack of public participation, coupled with instances of casting blank or invalid votes, reflects a broader discontent with the performance of government officials,” he added.

He further expressed disappointment in the failure of officials to address public concerns adequately.

"We officials neither behaved well with the people nor solved their problems; we should have at least done one of these properly to prevent the bitter incident of people's non-participation," Kuchakinejad stated.

Echoing his concerns, Emad al-Din Baghi, a prominent reformist activist, estimated that only about 20% of voters were happy with the current situation and took part in March 1 elections. Baqi urged authorities to heed the significance of the figures and undertake necessary reforms to restore public trust in the electoral process.

Furthermore, Baqi raised doubts about the accuracy of the government's official turnout figures, suggesting that “closer examination reveals a truer participation rate of around 34%, taking into account invalid votes.”