Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli has predicted 70 percent voter turn out in the presidential and city council elections on May 19.
Rahmani Fazli made the remarks in an interview with reporters during his visit to the election headquarters in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Tuesday morning.
According to the polls, up to 60 percent of people, who are eligible for voting are expected to attend this year's elections but 'I predict an increase in the percentage well beyond the level of 70 percent within 20 days of the election campaigns,' interior minister added.
He said all preparations had been made for holding a peaceful, legal and healthy election.
The official urged all volunteers for presidential elections to respect rules during the electoral campaigns.
The registration of candidates for Iran's presidential elections kicked off in Interior Ministry headquarters on Tuesday morning.
Head of the Islamic Coalition Party’s Central Council Mostafa Mirsalim was the only prominent political figure, who registered his name on Tuesday morning to run for the next presidential election.
Incumbent President Hassan Rouhani and Hojjatoleslam Ibrahim Raeisi, the custodian of Razavi holy shrine are two politicians expected also to register their name for the upcoming presidential elections.
The time for registration will end on 15 April and the Guardian Council will start vetting the registered candidates on 16 April.
The Guardian Council will start surveying the candidates' qualification on April 16 and the final list of candidates will be announced by the Interior Ministry on 26–27 April.
Election campaigns for the eventual candidates will officially begin on 28 April and end on May 17.
The 12th presidential elections, the 5th city and village councils as well as the parliamentary run-off for some constituencies will be held on May 19.
Per Article 115 of Iran’s Constitution and Article 35 of the Elections Law, the President of the Republic must be elected from among the religious and political elite who meet the following qualifications: Iranian origin, Iranian nationality, administrative leadership, clear past record, honesty and piety, believing in the fundamentals of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the official religion of the country.
Date: 11/04/2017
