This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/27/world/middleeast/iran-elections.html
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| As Some Iranians Register Dislike at Polls, Others Do So by Staying In | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| TEHRAN — Iranians in middle-class areas of the capital stood in long lines to vote in national elections on Friday, with many saying they supported the few candidates seeking change who were allowed to run. But in less prosperous areas, there was much less enthusiasm, and turnout seemed lower. | TEHRAN — Iranians in middle-class areas of the capital stood in long lines to vote in national elections on Friday, with many saying they supported the few candidates seeking change who were allowed to run. But in less prosperous areas, there was much less enthusiasm, and turnout seemed lower. |
| In a great number of cases, the outcome of the voting was predetermined, as the candidates were vetted by the Guardian Council, a panel dominated by hard-liners. Thousands of candidates, most of them reformists, were disqualified, assuring they would remain in the minority and limiting President Hassan Rouhani’s ability to make promised changes to end the country’s isolation and to expand personal liberties. | In a great number of cases, the outcome of the voting was predetermined, as the candidates were vetted by the Guardian Council, a panel dominated by hard-liners. Thousands of candidates, most of them reformists, were disqualified, assuring they would remain in the minority and limiting President Hassan Rouhani’s ability to make promised changes to end the country’s isolation and to expand personal liberties. |
| Iranians were voting for two separate bodies, Parliament and the Assembly of Experts, a clerical council that theoretically will elect the successor to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Iranian leader is 76 and has had some health problems, though he appears vigorous now. | Iranians were voting for two separate bodies, Parliament and the Assembly of Experts, a clerical council that theoretically will elect the successor to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Iranian leader is 76 and has had some health problems, though he appears vigorous now. |
| Ayatollah Khamenei voted early in the day and called upon all “who love Iran, the Islamic republic and people” to follow suit. A high turnout, he said, will “disappoint the enemies.” | Ayatollah Khamenei voted early in the day and called upon all “who love Iran, the Islamic republic and people” to follow suit. A high turnout, he said, will “disappoint the enemies.” |
| He appeared to be getting his wish in places, but primarily in North Tehran. There, the more well-heeled voters tend to look at the parliamentary elections as a once-in-four-years opportunity to register their dislike for the hard-line guardians of the revolution who largely control the government. | He appeared to be getting his wish in places, but primarily in North Tehran. There, the more well-heeled voters tend to look at the parliamentary elections as a once-in-four-years opportunity to register their dislike for the hard-line guardians of the revolution who largely control the government. |
| “At least if I vote for a reformist, I will reduce the number of hard-liners,” said Shahin Hemati, a 28-year-old dentist, expressing a widespread sentiment. “If the hard-liners are voted in, this will be a nightmare for me.” | “At least if I vote for a reformist, I will reduce the number of hard-liners,” said Shahin Hemati, a 28-year-old dentist, expressing a widespread sentiment. “If the hard-liners are voted in, this will be a nightmare for me.” |
| On social media, people in North Tehran shared pictures of themselves after voting, flashing victory signs and calling upon others to come out and vote. Families waiting in lines at school buildings and mosques could be overheard expressing their astonishment at the level of the turnout. | On social media, people in North Tehran shared pictures of themselves after voting, flashing victory signs and calling upon others to come out and vote. Families waiting in lines at school buildings and mosques could be overheard expressing their astonishment at the level of the turnout. |
| State television focused on one popular polling station, Hosseiniye Ershad, a blue-tiled spectacle of Islamic architecture in North Tehran. Several well-known officials and actors could be seen waiting their turn in the lengthy lines, holding their identity cards. | State television focused on one popular polling station, Hosseiniye Ershad, a blue-tiled spectacle of Islamic architecture in North Tehran. Several well-known officials and actors could be seen waiting their turn in the lengthy lines, holding their identity cards. |
| In the city’s poorer south side, voters seemed just as upset, but they largely chose to register their protest by staying home. Interviewed at a fruit and vegetable market in South Tehran, several customers said they would not even think of voting, pointing at corruption and the poor state of the economy. | In the city’s poorer south side, voters seemed just as upset, but they largely chose to register their protest by staying home. Interviewed at a fruit and vegetable market in South Tehran, several customers said they would not even think of voting, pointing at corruption and the poor state of the economy. |
| “Uptown, they vote for reformists because they want to protest against the hard-liners,” said Saeed Taheri, who sells children’s clothes. “Here, people don’t vote because they feel left out.” | “Uptown, they vote for reformists because they want to protest against the hard-liners,” said Saeed Taheri, who sells children’s clothes. “Here, people don’t vote because they feel left out.” |
| At the Shahid Montazeri school near Shoosh Square in South Tehran, only a handful of voters filled in the 46 names that have to be written in for the two elections. | At the Shahid Montazeri school near Shoosh Square in South Tehran, only a handful of voters filled in the 46 names that have to be written in for the two elections. |
| In the school, children’s drawings decorated the walls. The images showed families waving flags saying “God is great,” accompanied by ideological slogans like, “In the spring of the revolution, we miss the martyrs.” | In the school, children’s drawings decorated the walls. The images showed families waving flags saying “God is great,” accompanied by ideological slogans like, “In the spring of the revolution, we miss the martyrs.” |
| The disqualifications of the reformist candidates have gained a lot of attention, but the frustration of working-class voters with the economy is an equally important factor this year. Large parts of society are under pressure after years of sanctions and economic mismanagement. Despite the government’s efforts to rein in inflation, housing and transportation continue to be expensive, and the levels of disaffection are rising. | The disqualifications of the reformist candidates have gained a lot of attention, but the frustration of working-class voters with the economy is an equally important factor this year. Large parts of society are under pressure after years of sanctions and economic mismanagement. Despite the government’s efforts to rein in inflation, housing and transportation continue to be expensive, and the levels of disaffection are rising. |
| “During the time of the shah, before the revolution, here in the south we had second-rate cars, and second-rate schools,” said Hossein Soltani, a retired police officer who had come to the market to buy an apple and a banana. He said he did not see any difference now. “I do not vote because nobody has done anything for me.” | “During the time of the shah, before the revolution, here in the south we had second-rate cars, and second-rate schools,” said Hossein Soltani, a retired police officer who had come to the market to buy an apple and a banana. He said he did not see any difference now. “I do not vote because nobody has done anything for me.” |
| Nader Karimi Joni, a journalist and analyst close to the reformist movement, said the reason for the different levels of turnout was simple. “The poor in the south have lost all hope for change,” he said. “But those slightly better off still expect change to come.” | Nader Karimi Joni, a journalist and analyst close to the reformist movement, said the reason for the different levels of turnout was simple. “The poor in the south have lost all hope for change,” he said. “But those slightly better off still expect change to come.” |