No Security Problems Reported in Polling Stations across Iran: Police Chief

“Fortunately, no account of insecurity or indiscipline has been reported to the Law Enforcement Force up to now,” Brigadier General Ashtari told reporters in Tehran on Friday.

He said more than 300,000 armed forces have been deployed to polling stations across the country to ensure the security of the voting process.

The commander further predicted that with the cooperation of the people and authorities, the country would witness high turnout in the 12th presidential election, the 5th City and Village Councils elections and the Parliament’s midterm elections.

Near 63,500 polling stations across Iran opened on Friday morning. Around 14,000 mobile ballot boxes have been also prepared for inaccessible and rural areas.

Iranians headed to the polls as soon as the stations opened to elect the country’s 8th president.

The City and Village Councils elections in 142 cities are being held with electronic ballot boxes.

According to the Interior Ministry, the election process involves around 1.5 million executive forces and monitors, 350,000 security forces, 70,000 inspectors, and around 100,000 representatives of local governors.

Authorities say the number of eligible voters stands at above 56,400,000, more than 1,350,000 of whom are allowed to vote for the first time.

More than 600 local and foreign reporters and journalist cover the news of the elections.

There are four candidates seeking the presidency in the polls, namely incumbent President Hassan Rouhani, Ebrahim Raisi, Mostafa Hashemitaba, and Mostafa Aqa-Mirsalim. Two other hopefuls, Eshaq Jahangiri and Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, dropped out of the race in favor of Rouhani and Raisi, respectively.