The Silent Majority in Iran’s Presidential Election

Despite the fraying posters of Iran’s presidential candidates adorning highway overpasses, there were scarce indications over the weekend that the country had just concluded a presidential election and was gearing up for a runoff. The lack of rallies to support the top two vote-getters, who hail from opposite ends of the political spectrum and will compete on July 5, was particularly notable.

From the government’s official figures, it became apparent that the true victor of Friday’s election was Iran’s silent majority, with about 60 percent of eligible voters abstaining from voting or submitting a blank ballot. The prevailing sentiment among many Iranians was one of disillusionment, with the belief that the choice between the candidates offered little hope for significant change.

Bita Irani, a 40-year-old housewife in Tehran, encapsulated this sentiment by stating, “We had a choice between bad and worse. There is no difference between one candidate and another.” This sense of apathy towards the electoral process was echoed by numerous individuals I conversed with across Tehran, reflecting a prevailing attitude of disengagement.

Irani further emphasized, “We are watchers, not participants. We watch the elections, and if there are riots, we watch them, but we will not vote.” This disheartened outlook was a recurring theme among Iranians, even from those who did vote, indicating a widespread anticipation of disappointment.