RNA - Ayatollah Mazaheri, a member of the Third Assembly of Experts, cast his ballot in mobile ballot box number 725 in Esfahan.
Casting his ballot his eminence said in a short speech, “By the will of God, the fervent and mass participation of people in today’s election will make the Islamic Republic of Iran proud, people hopeful and the enemies of the nation hopeless.”
The 11th parliamentary elections and the midterm elections for the Assembly of Experts – a body whose members designate the country’s Leader – are being held simultaneously.
Last year, Iran's parliament objected to a motion to increase the number of the seats, keeping the figure at 290.
A total of 57,918,000 people are eligible to cast their ballots, therefore; there would be one lawmaker at the parliament per each 190,000-strong segment of the Iranian population.
A total of 7,148 candidates, including dozens of Iranians from the religious minorities, are running for the parliament.
In capital Tehran, 1,335 candidates are contesting one of the 30 allocated seats on the legislature.
The lawmakers are elected for a 4-year term, with no limitation for the incumbent or former parliamentarians to run again.
Rasa News Agency
A847/979