A survey conducted by the Iranian Students Public Opinion Research Organization (ISPA) revealed a significant lack of interest among voters, with 73 percent of respondents saying they did not watch the first presidential debate, which took place on June 17.
The lack of engagement is worrying as Iran prepares to elect a new president following the sudden death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash last month.
A face-to-face survey of 4,545 citizens conducted on June 18 and 19 revealed that only 26.8% of the population I watched the TV debateIt focuses on the immediate economic issues facing the country.
Moreover, the ISPA survey findings revealed widespread disinterest in election news, with 35% of respondents saying they don't follow election news at all, and the rest saying they have only minimal interest.
This withdrawal, Calls for a boycott of the elections are growing. Many citizens, as well as various political and civil society groups, have expressed dissatisfaction with Iran's record on human rights and democratic governance. Pressures for a boycott of the elections have been further strengthened by the Iranian government's repressive measures against freedom of speech and independent research.
Authorities have previously issued threats of legal action and possible criminal prosecution against anyone who publishes or publishes research data that portrays the government in a negative light.
Participation in the 2020 parliamentary elections plummeted after hundreds of government figures deemed too moderate were barred from running, resulting in hard-liners winning the majority of seats in a voter turnout below 50%.
The same situation was repeated in the 2021 presidential election and the March 2024 parliamentary election, with many strong candidates disqualified by the 12-member unelected Guardian Council. Turnout in both elections was well below 50 percent. Six carefully selected candidates were allowed to run in these elections as well.
Meanwhile, the government has continued to use lethal force against protesters and harsh measures against dissidents. This crackdown reflects deeper systemic problems in Iran's political landscape, as noted by prominent Iranian socio-political analyst Abbas Abdi. In a recent critique titled “Against the Government,” Abdi articulates the consequences of the government's uniformity policies, arguing that they have led to a decline in political participation.
According to Abdi, if voter turnout in a place like Tehran falls below 10 percent, it is a clear sign of a legitimacy crisis for the political system. While some constituencies may see higher turnout due to ethnic, tribal, linguistic or religious factors, Abdi noted that the overall low turnout is a warning and a “trumpet of doom” for Iranian politics under the current ruling regime.
“I'm not saying that participation in Tehran should be 80 percent, but a participation rate below 50 percent is a warning sign. Below 10 percent, it's a wake-up call, even a trumpet of political doom.”
Abdi further argued that distrust in government has led to less efficiency and less willingness for people to engage in the political process. He criticized the current government for its apparent inability to address and understand social issues, calling it “idealistic, visionless and disappointing.”
The implications of this widespread discontent are profound: As Abdi points out, the distance between the people and the government has become so great that bridging the gap is not only a logistical challenge, but also an emotional and psychological strain for citizens.
Iran is facing a climate of skepticism and a crisis of legitimacy as it approaches what are expected to be hotly contested elections on June 28. The last parliamentary elections in MarchThe low turnout in the second round of voting in Tehran – just 8 percent – highlights the widening gap between the government and the people.