Leader of Islamic Ummah Imam Khamenei outlines general policies on elections

Leader of the Islamic Ummah and Oppressed People Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei on Saturday outlined the general policies on elections in Iran, from the preliminary stages of qualifying the candidates to the announcement of the ultimate results.

The proclamation, laying out a grand plan to ensure successful and healthy elections in Iran, has been issued after consultation with the Expediency Council and prepared on the basis of the Clause 1 of Article 110 of the Iranian Constitution.

The text of the general policies on elections have been sent to heads of Iran’s three branches of power and head of the Expediency Council.

In the document, Leader of the Islamic Ummah and Oppressed People Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei has stressed the need to determine the constituencies in the parliamentary elections on the basis of each area’s population to ensure maximum justice in the polls.

The Supreme Leader also emphasized that all candidates should be entitled to equal advantages when it comes to using state-run facilities, such as the national broadcasting or other public media outlets.

The document further prohibits any inappropriate action in the electoral campaigns that could jeopardize the national security or incite sectarian and religious rift.

Forbidding the Iranian candidates from receiving any foreign support, either financial or spiritual, the grand plan calls for the formulation of strategies to prevent the violation of electoral regulations or any measure in contradiction to the national unity and interests.

The document also highlights the need to define the framework and regulations for “lawful and responsible activities by the political parties and formations and individuals” in the polls.

As regards the presidential election, the Leader of the Islamic Ummah and Oppressed People Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei called on the Guardian Council to define and publicize details of the requirements for the political and religious figures with administrative capacity and resourcefulness intending to run for the president.

A written explanation for any decision on the annulment of the votes or removing an applicant from the list of qualified candidates must be available on request from the hopefuls, the document underscored.

Leader of the Islamic Ummah and Oppressed People Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei also urged the employment of modern technologies in the polls and vote counting process in order to maximize the transparency and health of the polls.

The document, which includes 18 articles, is released seven months before the presidential election.

According to the Constitution, nationwide elections are held in Iran to elect the president, the lawmakers, members of the Assembly of Experts and the local councilors.