Iran's Constitutional Council Upholds Results of March 1 Elections

The Constitutional Council of Iran has formally approved the outcomes of the March 1 parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections. 

Council spokesperson Hadi Tahan Nazif, speaking on state TV Monday night, confirmed "the correctness and validity of elections in 208 polling areas for the parliamentary elections and in all of the polling areas of the Assembly of Experts elections in 31 provinces across the country."

Nazif also announced that run-off parliamentary elections are scheduled for May 10.

The overall turnout of these elections plummeted to as low as 41 percent, marking a continued trend of public disengagement from electoral processes.

Many voters abstained from casting their ballots despite the Iranian authorities' call for people to participate in the elections.

The low turnout followed the controversial pre-election vetting process, which removed prominent reformist and moderate candidates.

The low participation rate represents a setback for the government, which has traditionally cited high voter turnout as evidence of the Islamic Republic's legitimacy.

Most of Iran's disgruntled and disenchanted voters skipped the March 1 elections to the Parliament and the Assembly of Experts.

They see the process as a false display of democracy meant to validate a government that has not improved citizens' living conditions or personal freedom.