Iranian Elections

[Zimzum]

What if there people send a message to there government like we did in our last election?



Iran's vast participation at election polls

ISNA - Tehran
Service: Politic


TEHRAN, Dec. 15 (ISNA)-Today the Iranian people have placed hand in hand to build and determine their own future through their votes and their participation in the Experts' Assembly and municipality elections.

Tehran's elections executive deputy gave news that the nation's participation was vastly more than expected.

"We thought that people will mostly come to give their votes in the evening rather than in the morning, but we faced a truly vast amount of participators in the morning," explained Ibrahim Rezvani.

"This vast participation shows that the people are truly concerned about their future," he noted.

A member of South Khorasan's elections Supervising Council commented "We are sure that the province of South Khorasn as before will participate vastly in these elections," noted this official.


Iran's Western Azerbaijan elections supervisor praised the immense presence of this province's people at the poles.


"Gladly the peoples' participation is vast and praise worthy," said Hashemi Hejazifar.


Fars Province's elections supervisor while referring to the huge attendance of this province in the today held elections noted, that people had gathered at the poles from early morning.


"I believe that the Interior Ministry will have to add to the announced time," said Majid Rozitalab.


End Item

News Code: 8509-14815

[Zimzum]

When is the last time 60% of American voters voted? For federal elections we have not had a 60% turnout since 1968... My source on my figure (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0781453.html)

Poll blow for Iran's Ahmadinejad
Partial results from key elections in Iran suggest a setback for conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Friday's elections were for the powerful clerical body, the Assembly of Experts, along with local government.

On a turnout of 60%, the big winners seem to be moderate conservatives, while reformists have made a comeback after three poor election showings.

Moderate former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani sealed a landslide win for a seat on the Assembly of Experts.

Presidential pressure

With most of the results for local elections announced throughout the country, the president's allies have failed to win control of any council.


IRANIAN ELECTIONS
Iranians are voting in two sets of elections
Assembly of Experts poll: Powerful clerical body which supervises the Supreme Leader
Local council polls: More than 250,000 candidates for around 100,000 seats nationwide
46.5 million eligible voters

With about 20% of the Tehran votes counted, Mr Ahmadinejad's supporters were said to be in a minority. Candidates supporting moderate conservative Mayor Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf were ahead.

Not a single candidate supporting the president won a seat on councils in the key cities of Shiraz, Rasht or Bandar Abbas.

The president's supporters have also failed to main significant gains on the Assembly of Experts, which can dismiss the supreme leader.

BBC Iran affairs analyst Sadeq Saba says the message is loud and clear and is likely to increase pressure on President Ahmadinejad to change his policies.

Reformists hailed the early results. The Islamic Iran Participation Front said: "It is a big 'no' to the government's authoritarian and inefficient methods."

The biggest winner, our correspondent says, is Mr Rafsanjani, who was defeated by Mr Ahmadinejad in the 2005 presidential elections.

A conservative cleric close to Mr Ahmadinejad, Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, came only sixth in the Assembly of Experts poll.

The overall turnout was about 10 percentage points up on the 2002 local elections.



Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/6190673.stm

Published: 2006/12/18 15:54:52 GMT

[Breukelen advocaat]

When is the last time 60% of American voters voted? For federal elections we have not had a 60% turnout since 1968... My source on my figure (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0781453.html)



I've always believed that the main reason Americans do not have voter turnout like other countries is because we do not get time off to vote. Unlike the U.S., election day in many countries is a holiday. With an average 47 hour work week, it's extremely difficult, if not impossible, for many Americans to get to the polls on election day.

Iran, for instance, has a combination of holidays that shut them down for almost a week during their election time:

http://drugbilldebacle.tpmcafe.com/blog/seanpaul/2006/dec/15/high_turnout_good_or_bad
Another example is the two extra days of Ramadan holiday he declared while we where there that really irritated the business class, but played to Ahmedinejad's base, the lower-middle class devout Shi'a voters who fled Tehran for a happy four-day holiday in the provinces. Meanwhile the government shut down and nothing in the city got done. This is important because Iran's weekend is on Thursday and Friday, everything is shut down. No mail. No government offices open. No banks. And then their work week begins on Saturday. But it's a problem for business people because the rest of the world--like China--has a weekend similar to ours. It creates financial problems, among the more obvious, especially trade settlement on oil contracts and the like (if you've ever done international finance you'll know what I am talking about. His actions basically cut out almost a full work week. Great for some, but if you are engaged in international trade or commerce of any kind you lost money.

[Zimzum]

I think its a bit more than we don't get the day off to vote. Most people feel there vote wont count if they vote for politician "x" so they don't vote. Also political ignorance I think keeps people away as well. I know here in MA on election day businesses are required to allow people to vote, even if it means they need to work a shorter day to get it done. Those who want to vote will do it on day one. Additional days IMO will bring in those who feel voting is a choir and not wanting to do it in the first place. And if you can't vote due to hardship there is always the absenty ballot here.

[Breukelen advocaat]

If we had some of the elections held on Saturday or Sunday, turnout would probably improve tremendously.


It's a disgrace that turnout is so low, but if you can't afford to take off then you don't vote. You get FORCED to do jury duty, but you can't even have a day off to vote. Gimee a break!

[Breukelen advocaat]

OK, some states are required to give you an hour or two off, some pay and some do not. Some states require that you must prove to your employer that you voted.

What they DON'T tell you here is that there are non-specific repurcussions for people that take advantage of the hour or two that they are legally allowed to have. That is why elections should be held on the weekends, or election day as a national holiday. In some states that do not have laws to allow employees to take time to vote, there is no protection from being fired for employees that do so. In over three decades of working, I can't recall a single person ever leaving work early to vote, or an employer making the staff aware that they are allowed to do so.

Iran's voters had almost a week off, combined with their other holidays, during this recent election time.


Are You Required to Let Your Employees Vote?


By: Leslie Taylor
A majority of states now mandate that companies provide time for employees to cast their ballots.

While there are no federal laws requiring companies to give time off from work to vote, a majority of states do have rules designed to ensure employees can make it to the polls on Election Day.

Laws vary by state, but if polls are not open two or three hours outside employees' regular shifts, employers are generally required to provide them with reasonable time off to vote. Lunch and other rest periods may not be included as part of the time off for voting.

The state laws are designed to ensure employees are not disciplined or retaliated against for taking time off to vote. Many states also require that companies pay employees for time they are absent while voting.

Most states allow employers to specify the time of day employees may take off to vote. Generally, employers may require employees to request time off in advance of Election Day.

The National Federation of Independent Businesses, a Washington-based small-business lobby, has compiled a list of voting laws by state, which is summarized below:

Alabama
If the polls open at least two hours before the employee starts work or close at least one hour after the employee ends work, the employer is not required to offer time off. Otherwise, employees are allowed time off not to exceed one hour.
Statute does not indicate whether time off is paid or unpaid.
Alaska
If polls are not open two consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed sufficient time off to vote.
Paid
Arizona
If polls are not open three consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed three hours to vote.
Paid
Arkansas
Employers must schedule sufficient time on election days so that employees may vote.
Statute does not indicate whether time off is paid or unpaid.
California
Employees are allowed two hours at the beginning or end of the regular working shift to vote.
Paid
Colorado
If polls are not open three consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed two hours to vote.
Paid
Connecticut
None
Delaware
None
Florida
None
Georgia
If polls are not open two consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed two hours to vote.
Statute does not indicate whether time off is paid or unpaid.
Hawaii
If polls are not open two consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed two hours to vote.
Paid, with proof that a vote is cast
Idaho
None
Illinois
Employees are allowed two hours to vote.
Unpaid
Indiana
None
Iowa
If polls are not open three consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed three hours to vote.
Paid
Kansas
Employees are allowed up to two hours to vote.
Paid
Kentucky
Employees are allowed up to four hours to vote.
Unpaid
Louisiana
None
Maine
None
Maryland
If polls are not open two consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed up to two hours to vote.
Paid with proof of voting
Massachusetts
Voters employed in mechanical, manufacturing or mercantile businesses allowed time off during the first two hours after the polls have opened only if an application for absence has been submitted.
Statute does not indicate whether time off is paid or unpaid.
Michigan
None
Minnesota
Employees allowed time off during the mornings of election days.
Paid
Mississippi
None
Missouri
If polls are not open three consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed up to three hours to vote if a request for time is made prior to Election Day. The employer may specify the time of day the employees may take time off to vote.
Paid
Montana
None
Nebraska
If polls are not open two consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed up to two hours to vote if a request for time is made prior to Election Day. The employer may specify the time of day employees may take time off to vote.
Paid
Nevada
If polls are not open a "sufficient" amount of time outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed one to three hours to vote if a request for time is made prior to Election Day. "Sufficient" time depends on the distance between work and the polling site. The employer may specify the time of day employees may take time off to vote.
Paid
New Hampshire
None
New Jersey
None
New Mexico
If the polls open at least two hours before the employee starts work or close at least three hours after the employee ends work, the employer is not required to offer time off. Otherwise, employees are allowed up to two hours. The employer may specify the time of day employees may take time off to vote, but it may not include lunch or rest hours.
Paid
New York
If polls are not open four consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed "sufficient time" to vote if a request for time is made prior to Election Day. The employer may specify whether employees must take the time at the beginning or the end of the shift. Employers must post a conspicuous notice of employee rights at least ten days before Election Day.
Paid up to two hours
North Carolina
None
North Dakota
The law encourages employers to provide time off to vote when an employee's regular work schedule conflicts with the times polls are open.
Policy is voluntary and does not indicate whether time off is paid or unpaid.
Ohio
The law forbids employers from firing an employee who takes a reasonable amount of time to vote.
Paid for salaried employees
Oklahoma
Every employer must allow its registered voters up to tow hours off to vote on Election Day, during the time when the polls are open.
Paid
Oregon
None
Pennsylvania
None
Rhode Island
None
South Carolina
None
South Dakota
If polls are not open two consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed to take time off to vote.
Paid
Tennessee
If polls are not open three consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed time to vote not to exceed three hours if a request for time is made before noon the day before Election Day. The employer may specify when during the shift the employee may take time off to vote.
Paid
Texas
If polls are not open two consecutive hours outside the employee's regular shift, the
employee is allowed reasonable time to vote.
Paid
Utah
If polls are not open three hours outside the employee's regular shift, the employee is allowed up to two hours to vote. The employer may specify when during the shift the employee may take time off to vote.
Paid
Vermont
None
Virginia
None
Washington
If polls are not open two hours outside the employee's regular shift (not including meal or rest breaks), the employer must arrange employee work time on Election Day so the employee is allowed reasonable time to vote.
Paid
Washington, D.C.
None
West Virginia
Employees are allowed no more than three hours to vote if a written request for time off is made at least three days prior to Election Day.
Paid
Wisconsin
Employees are allowed no more than three hours to vote if the request for time off is made prior to Election Day. The employer may specify when during the shift the employee may take time off to vote.
Unpaid
Wyoming
Employees may take one hour to vote.
Paid

http://www.inc.com/criticalnews/articles/200611/employees.html

[Zimzum]

So why isn't this reciving more media in the US? We did it in Nov. and it was headline news all over the world.:confused:

Ahmadinejad's opponents win local elections in Iran, final results show (http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=bfad2ed3-1642-4dc1-a06c-c03b655a8ce1&k=18479)

Ali Akbar Dareini
Canadian Press


Thursday, December 21, 2006


TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's opponents won local council elections in Iran, final results showed Thursday, in an embarrassing blow to the hardline leader that could force him to change his staunch anti-western stance and focus more on domestic issues.

Last week's elections for local councils in towns and cities across Iran were widely seen as a referendum on Ahmadinejad's 18 months in office.

Since taking power, Ahmadinejad has escalated Iran's confrontation with the United States and the West, drawing the threat of UN sanctions for pushing ahead with uranium enrichment in Iran's nuclear program. He has also sparked international outrage for his comments against Israel and casting doubt on the Nazi Holocaust.

His hardline stances are believed to have divided the conservatives who voted him into power last year, with some feeling Ahmadinejad has spent too much time confronting the West and has failed to deal with Iran's struggling economy.

Moderate conservatives opposed to Ahmadinejad won a majority of the seats in Friday's elections followed by reformists who were suppressed by hardliners in 2004, according to final results announced by the Interior Ministry.

The final results also represented a partial comeback for reformists, who were crushed over the past five years by hardliners who drove them out of the local councils, parliament and the presidency. The reformists favour closer ties with the West and further loosening of social and political restrictions under the Islamic government.

In Tehran, the capital, candidates supporting Mayor Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, a moderate conservative, won seven of the 15 council seats. Reformists won four, while Ahmadinejad's allies won three. The last seat went to wrestling champion Ali Reza Dabir, who won a gold medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and is considered an independent.

Final results for the rest of the country also showed a heavy defeat for Ahmadinejad supporters, and analysts said his allies won less than 20 per cent of local council seats nationwide. None of his candidates won seats on the councils in the cities of Shiraz, Bandar Abbas, Sari, Zanjan, Rasht, Ilam, Sanandaj and Kerman. Many councils in other cities were divided along similar proportions as Tehran's.

Last week's election for local councils, which handle community matters in cities and towns, does not directly effect Ahmadinejad's administration and is not expected to bring immediate policy changes.

But it was the first time the public has weighed in on Ahmadinejad's stormy presidency since he took office in June 2005. The results are expected to pressure him to change his populist anti-western tone and focus more on Iran's high unemployment and economic problems at home.

Leading reformist Saeed Shariati said the results of the election was a "big no" to Ahmadinejad and his allies.

"People's vote means they don't support Ahmadinejad's policies and want change," Shariati, a leader of the Islamic Iran Participation Front, Iran's largest reformist party told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Shariati accused Ahmadinejad of harming Iran's interests with his hard line.

"We consider this government's policy to be against Iran's national interests and security. It is simply acting against Iran's interests," he said. His party seeks democratic changes within Iran's ruling Islamic establishment and supports relations with the United States.

Similar anti-Ahmadinejad sentiment was visible in the final results of a parallel election held to select members of the Assembly of Experts, a conservative body of 86 senior clerics that monitors Iran's supreme leader and chooses his successor.

A big boost for moderates within the ruling Islamic establishment was visible in the big number of votes for former President Hashemi Rafsanjani, who lost to Ahmadinejad in the 2005 presidential election runoff.

Rafsanjani, who supports dialogue with the United States, received the most votes of any Tehran candidate to win re-election to the assembly. Also re-elected was Hasan Rowhani, Iran's former top nuclear negotiator whom Ahmadinejad has repeatedly accused of making too many concessions to the Europeans.

Iran started having council elections after a reform introduced in 1999 by then President Mohammed Khatami.

More than 233,000 candidates ran for more than 113,000 council seats in cities, towns and villages across the vast country on Friday. All municipal council candidates, including some 5,000 women, were vetted by parliamentary committees dominated by hardliners. The committees disqualified about 10,000 nominees, reports said.