As the Iranian government faces its biggest battle for legitimacy since the founding of the Islamic Republic, a new survey suggests that at least 65 percent of Iranians are likely to boycott the upcoming presidential elections.
according to investigation The survey, conducted by the Netherlands-based Gammeran Institute, found that just 22% of respondents said they would definitely vote, while 12% remained undecided.
The survey, titled “Iranians' Attitudes Towards the 2024 Elections,” was conducted online over three days, from June 17 to 19, 2024, among 77,216 people.
Additionally, about 34 percent of the population reported they did not know the date of the general elections, which were scheduled for June 28 following the sudden death of former President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash last month along with several other senior government officials.
The survey results highlight deep-rooted dissatisfaction with the current political system, with some 68% of respondents citing “opposition to the overall system of the Islamic Republic” as their main reason for not voting. Other notable reasons include “limited presidential powers” (18%) and “the candidate I support was disqualified” (8%).
In February of this year, The survey revealed Three-quarters of Iranians will boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections and 75% will call for the toppling of the government – a prediction that has largely come true, with the government claiming turnout was 40%.
The survey also touched on public perception of the helicopter crash that killed Raisi, with 51 percent of respondents saying the crash was caused by a “power struggle within the regime,” while 13 percent believed it was due to natural causes and 6 percent suspected foreign sabotage.
The survey results reflect the general mood in a country amid economic and social turmoil, as Iran has struggled with annual inflation of more than 40 percent for the past four years and, since 2019, unprecedented government violence against those who dare protest.
Recently, politicians, civil society groups, women activists and civil society organisations have called for a boycott of the elections. Over 500 Iranian teachers, trade unionists and prominent cultural figures have publicly called for the boycott. announced their decision to abstain from voting Through the joint statement, they expressed a positive stance toward the next presidential election.
Iran's Nobel Prize winner from Evin Prison Narges Mohammadi condemned the presidential elections Iran has called this an “illegal election conducted by a repressive and illegitimate government.”
Similarly, political prisoner Mahboubheh Rezaei slammed the election. He explained that the Islamic Republic has no legitimacy after nearly two years of the Women, Life and Freedom uprising that has plunged the government into crisis.
Dozens of citizens also said in messages to Iran International that they would not take part in the elections.
On Saturday, The US will allow remote polling stations for Iranians abroad. Iranian-Americans strongly criticized the decision, saying it would only bolster the regime's pretensions of legitimacy.
In the United States, which has the world's largest Iranian diaspora, more than 30 broadcasters last year ranked Iran as the world's top state sponsor of terrorism.
The ballot boxes will be installed in the Iranian Interests Sections of Pakistani embassies in Washington, New York and elsewhere.
