Activist Highlights Voter Apathy as Iran Faces Presidential Election

Iranian journalist and political activist Abbas Abdi says a significant number of Iranians are not inclined to vote in the snap presidential elections on June 28, disillusioned with the political system.

In an op-ed for the Etemad newspaper on Sunday, Abdi stated, "the ice of boycotting the elections has not yet begun to melt.”

He added that “one should not need to provide reasons or arguments for not participating, but rather, reasons and analysis are required for deciding to participate.”

The sentiment underscores the broader public dissatisfaction that was evident during the historically low turnout in the March parliamentary elections. Many Iranians, disenchanted with continuous economic struggles and government oppression, feel alienated from the political process. Key issues fueling voter apathy include rampant inflation, crackdowns on protests and dissent, and a pervasive sense of ineffective governance.

Since 2020, the core of the clerical regime loyal to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have barred other insider from running in elections, giving control of the parliament and the presidency to hardliners. Seeing little choice among candidates, voters have stayed away, bringing participation well below 50%.

With the presidential election approaching following the sudden death of Ebrahim Raisi in helicopter crash, the lack of enthusiasm suggests that many in Iran continue to see no value in participating in what they perceive as a flawed and predetermined electoral system. 

The system faces a challenge in convincing a disillusioned populace that their votes matter and can lead to tangible changes, a task made even more daunting in the current climate of widespread discontent and economic hardship.