May 22, 2008 — Vol. 1, Issue 7

An Iranian woman votes during a recent election.

The Iran Election Bulletin is a biweekly publication covering domestic political and election issues in Iran in the lead-up to the June 12 presidential election.

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May 22, 2009

Volume 1, Issue 7
Leigh Catherine Miles, Editor | Geneive Abdo, Iran analyst

The Iran Election Bulletin is a joint publication of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and The Century Foundation.

Feature Articles

Presidential Candidates Compete for Student Vote

In the final days before Iran’s June 12 presidential election, the leading contenders are using a mix of old and new campaign techniques, including social networking sites like Facebook, to win over a powerful but elusive constituency – the country’s university students. University campuses have played a vital role in revolutionary politics in Iran. Students are feared among Iran’s ruling political elites; they actively participate in elections and their influence extends beyond their generation. | Read more »

The Launch of the Elections in Iran’s Universities

The Iranian presidential election has become the focus of the nation, with observers – both in Iran and abroad – watching closely to see whether President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be re-elected or whether there will be a change of government. Amid this atmosphere, the election has found a unique place in universities, which are considered the main venues for reform in Iran. Students, as essential drivers of change, view the upcoming election as an opportunity to improve their current conditions. | Read more »

Ethnic Politics and the Tenth Presidential Election

As the Iranian presidential election rapidly approaches, the candidates are tirelessly campaigning across the country. Reformists Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, in particular, are competing intensely for support among Iran’s large, but often neglected, ethnic and religious minority voting blocs. Mousavi has proposed unprecedented, detailed policies to address minority grievances, and with Mousavi increasingly being touted as the reformist frontrunner, Karroubi’s chance of retaining minority support is steadily decreasing. | Read more »

Voices from Iran

These stories are on-the-ground analyses and perspectives written by Iranian journalists.

Iranian Women and the Kindness of the Presidential Candidates

Iranian women have become a focus of the presidential candidates, and promises are made to gain their support. The consensus among women, however – especially young women – is that once the election is over, the talk and hope regarding equal rights will become more empty campaign promises. | Read more »