Voting Time for Iran's Presidential Elections Extended for the Third Time

The Iranian electoral commission has extended the voting time for the presidential elections for the third time. Iranians can now vote until midnight local time.

"The voting for the presidential elections has been extended until 00:00," said Mohsen Eslamin, a representative of the Iranian electoral commission, during a broadcast on the IRIB TV channel. The voting time was previously extended twice, first from 18:00 to 20:00, and then to 22:00 local time. The third extension is likely to be the last, after which the counting of votes will begin.

Long lines have formed at polling stations as more people wish to cast their votes on a hot day. For instance, in southern Iran, temperatures have exceeded 46 degrees Celsius, while central Iran has maintained around 35 degrees Celsius.

The early presidential elections in Iran began on June 28 at 08:00 local time, following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi on May 19. Four political figures are competing in the presidential race: conservatives Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Said Jalili, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, and reformist Masoud Pezeshkian.