Iranians head to polls to pick new parliament amid uncertainty
Polls have opened across Iran in the country's eleventh parliamentary election, seen as a test for the popularity of President Hassan Rouhani's reformist-moderate camp, which has dominated Parliament since 2016, Al Jazeera reports.
Elections for Iran's 290-member Parliament are set amid escalating political tensions, economic struggles and concerns of low participation. The spectre of the coronavirus infection that has killed two people also adds another layer of uncertainty to the electoral process.
Voters on Friday will also choose replacements for seven deceased members of the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body responsible for appointing the Supreme Leader.
Nearly 58 million people are eligible to vote on pre-selected lists of candidates that represent more than 250 registered parties. All voters must be more than 18 years of age. Almost three million are first-time voters.
A total of 55,000 polling stations have been set up at mosques throughout the country. More than 7,000 candidates, including at least 666 women, are competing.