Elections in Iran 2016 Majlis and Assembly of Experts Elections Frequently Asked Questions Middle East and North Africa International Foundation for Electoral Systems 2011 Crystal Drive | Floor 10 | Arlington, VA 22202 | www.IFES.org February 18, 2016 Frequently Asked Questions When is Election Day? ................................................................................................................................... 1 Who are citizens voting for on Election Day? ............................................................................................... 1 Why are these elections important? ............................................................................................................ 1 How many electoral constituencies have been established? ....................................................................... 2 What type of electoral system will be used? ................................................................................................ 2 What are the eligibility criteria to stand as a candidate for the Majlis and Assembly of Experts? .............. 3 Which political parties have candidates in the election? ............................................................................. 4 Who registered to compete for the elections? ............................................................................................ 5 What are the rules on campaigning? ............................................................................................................ 5 Are the media subject to regulations when covering the electoral campaign? ........................................... 6 What are the rules for campaign finance? ................................................................................................... 6 How many eligible voters are there? ............................................................................................................ 6 What is the legal framework for elections in Iran? ...................................................................................... 6 What is the structure of the government? ................................................................................................... 7 Are there reserved seats for women for the upcoming elections? .............................................................. 7 What is the election management body? What are its powers? ................................................................. 8 How many polling places are set up on Election Day? ................................................................................. 9 Is out-of-country voting allowed? ................................................................................................................. 9 How will voters with disabilities be accommodated during the electoral process? .................................. 10 What technology will be used? ................................................................................................................... 10 Does the government carry out voter information or education campaigns? ........................................... 10 Who will be/can observe during Election Day? .......................................................................................... 10 How will Election Day security be ensured? ............................................................................................... 10 What are the basic rules for Election Day? ................................................................................................. 11 How are the results tabulated and announced? ........................................................................................ 11 How will election disputes be adjudicated? ............................................................................................... 12 What is the role of the judiciary in the electoral process? ......................................................................... 12 Resources .................................................................................................................................................... 13 Disclosure: These FAQs reflect decisions made by the Iranian election authorities, to the best of our knowledge as of February 18, 2016. This document does not represent any IFES policy or technical recommendations. Elections in Iran: 2016 Majlis and Assembly of Experts Elections Frequently Asked Questions When is Election Day? Election Day is on Friday, February 26, 2016. Who are citizens voting for on Election Day? Citizens are voting for two bodies on Election Day – the 290-member Islamic Consultative Assembly (Iran’s Parliament, also known as the Majlis) and the 88-member Assembly of Experts. This is the first time that elections for both bodies are being held simultaneously. In 2009, a law was passed postponing these Assembly of Experts elections (originally scheduled for 2014) in order to be held simultaneously with the scheduled 2016 Majlis election. This was done in order to have elections in Iran only every two years (presidential and Local Council elections are also held simultaneously), which was intended to reduce costs and increase voter participation. Why are these elections important? These elections are important for a number of reasons. As noted below, Iran’s governmental system is a mix of elected and appointed bodies with varying degrees of political and religious responsibility and authority. The Majlis and the Assembly of Experts, both of whom will be elected in February, play a role in selecting the individuals who serve in the country’s non-elected positions with the greatest religious and political authority – the Supreme Leader of Iran and the Guardian Council.1 The Majlis selects six of the 12 members of the Guardian Council2 (who are nominated by the head of the judiciary). Additionally, the Assembly of Experts, which is elected every eight years, is responsible for electing, supervising, and if necessary dismissing the Supreme Leader, who is the head of state, commander in chief, and a high-ranking religious figure in Iran. 3 Given that the Assembly of Experts is expected to serve 1 The Guardian Council is a twelve-member body composed of (1) six qualified theologians who are well versed in Islamic jurisprudence, and (2) six Muslim jurists who specialize in different areas of law. The Supreme Leader of Iran directly appoints the six theologians, while the six Muslim jurists are elected by a plurality vote in the Majlis from among a pool selected by the head of the judiciary, who is himself appointed by the Supreme Leader. Members serve for six-year terms. 2 The Guardian Council has extensive religious and political authority, which includes reviewing and approving all legislation passed in the Majlis; evaluating statutes approved by the cabinet and other state organs to ensure their conformity with Islamic criteria; interpreting the constitution; and supervising the elections of the Assembly of Experts, President, Majlis, and referendums, including vetting and approving or rejecting parliamentary, Assembly of Experts, and presidential candidates. 3 The current Supreme Leader, Sayyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, has been in that position since 1989; given that the next Assembly of Experts is expected to serve through 2024, it may be that this Assembly will be responsible for electing the next Supreme Leader. Page 1 of 13 International Foundation for Electoral Systems through 2024, it may be that this Assembly will be responsible for electing the next Supreme Leader, who could be selected from within their ranks. Also, although the Supreme Leader and Guardian Council play a significant role in the ultimate composition of the Majlis and Assembly of Experts – through oversight, vetting, and appointment powers – the elections of the Majlis and Assembly of Experts represent a significant opportunity for Iranian citizens to make their voices heard. Finally, this will be the first election in Iran since the recently-concluded nuclear agreement. Although this agreement is often analyzed within the context of international security concerns, it also will likely be of significant domestic importance in Iran and the Iranian electoral process may reflect domestic political tensions and debates over the agreement. How many electoral constituencies have been established? There are 290 Majlis seats allocated to 207 constituencies. Constituencies vary in geographic size, but largely reflect a formula of one seat per 150,000 voters. Currently the province of Tehran elects the highest number of Majlis deputies with 38 representatives, while the provinces of Ilam, South Khorasan, Qom and Kohkiluye and Boyarahamad elect the least number of representatives, with three deputies each. Of the 290 seats, 285 are directly elected, and one seat each is reserved for the following minority communities: Zoroastrians, Jews, Assyrian and Chaldean Christians, Armenian Christians in the north of the country, and Armenian Christians in the south of the country. The 88 seats in the Assembly of Experts are divided among Iran’s 31 provinces, with number of seats for each district allocated based on population size. However, candidates are not required to be from, or reside in, the province in which they are running, and in instances where the number of registered candidates in a province is equal to or less than the number of vacant seats, candidates from other provinces with confirmed qualification may change their location to that province. What type of