Today.Az - Iranian people vote in presidential elections

Today.Az » Politics » Iranian people vote in presidential elections - UPDATED

12 June 2009 [10:25] - Today.Az

Polling stations opened in Tehran at 08:00 local time.

11:25

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei voted one of the first in a polling station in Tehran, IRINA reported.

Khamenei called on the Iranian people to actively participate in the voting. He said that participation in elections is an intellectual and spiritual duty of every Iranian. Everyone should vote for their candidate," he said.

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11:20

Voters are visiting polling stations to vote, Mehr news agency reported. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khomenei will vote in Tehran polling station at morning. The polling stations will close at 06:00. However, Supervisory Board said the vote can be extended till 24:00.

"The vote will last from 08:00 to 18:00. It can be extended up to midnight," Iranian Central Election Commission chairman Kamran Daneshchu said.
He said a person who gains majority (50 percent +1) of votes will win. If none of the candidates win necessary number of votes, the second round of elections will be held on June 19.

Former Speaker Mehdi Karroubi, Former Prime Minister Mir Hussein Moussavi, Head of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (Sepah) Mohsun Rezai and incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are running for president.

Presidential elections in Iran are held every four years. Candidates may participate in the electoral process after the approval of the Supervisory Board. A person elected as president, receives the status after the approval of the supreme spiritual leader. President is the second official after the supreme spiritual leader. President controls the entire executive department that determines external and internal policy.

/Trend News/