Iran to Hold City Councils Elections Electronically in 10,000 Polling Stations
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran plans to hold the 5th City and Village Councils elections through using electronic voting in 10,000 polling stations, the head of the central board responsible for monitoring the elections announced.
Speaking at a press conference in Tehran on Monday, Mohammad Mahmoudi Shahneshin said the forthcoming elections will be staged fully electronically in one sixth of the polling places, i.e. 10,000.
The Interior Ministry has suggested that the elections in metropolises, like Tehran and Mashhad, or the capitals of the provinces be held electronically but no decision has been made on that yet, he said.
The official added that the issue will be discussed in a joint meeting between the central board and the ministry in coming days.
Farhad Tajari, a senior member of the central board, had said earlier last week that the country has called off plans to hold the elections in big cities electronically.
The Iranian official also said the electronic elections will be held in small towns with high security.
Earlier in February, Qassem Mirzaee Nekou, another member of the central board, had told Tasnim that 11,000 machines will be used for the upcoming City and Village Councils elections.
The City and Village Councils elections is scheduled to be held simultaneously with the presidential election on May 19.
Registration of candidates for the City and Village Councils will start on March 13. Members of the councils across Iran are elected by public vote for a 4-year term.
According to article 7 of the Iranian Constitution, the local councils, together with the parliament, are "decision-making and administrative organs of the State".