Iran´s 10th Presidential Elections Ongoing amid Huge Turnout

 
Source: almanar.com.lb, 12-6-2009

Iranians poured into polling stations on Friday all over the country to vote in the 10th presidential elections race. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei was the first to cast his vote urging people to turn out for the elections.

"Everybody go and everybody vote and act based on their judgment," Sayyed Khamenei said in comments broadcast live on state television, urging people to do so early in the day. His eminence Khamenei also warned of people who might seek to stir tension at polling stations. "If some wanted to create such tension people should not let them," he said.

Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli said that some five million Iranians have so far cast their votes before mid-day, which he termed 'unprecedented' in comparison with previous elections. Mahsouli added that the final turnout is expected to be above 70 percent. According to the minister, no irregularities have been reported so far.

Four candidates, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad-- who is battling for second four year terms since 2005 Presidential race-- Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and Mohsen Rezaie, are running in the race for election as Iran's 10th President.

Voting started at 8 a.m. (11:30 p.m. EDT). Polls, however, may remain open until midnight depending on the turnout. Preliminary results are expected early on Saturday. A runoff will be held on June 19 if no single candidate emerges with 50 percent plus one vote on Friday.

State television, showing live footage of people queuing at a Tehran polling station, said a record turnout was expected. Based on the statistics, released jointly by Iran Statistics Center and the State Personal Status Organization, some 46.2 million people are eligible for voting.

Moreover, according to the state Elections Headquarters, 45,713 ballot boxes are envisaged throughout the country of which 31,455 of the boxes will be stationary while 14,258 others will be mobile. Concurrent with the presidential elections in Iran, there will be 304 boxes in 130 countries to enable voting by Iranians abroad.