In a significant political event, Iran held its first parliamentary election since the 2022 mass protests against mandatory hijab laws. However, the election drew a low turnout as calls for a boycott resonated across the country. It remains unclear whether voter apathy or a deliberate desire to send a message to Iran's theocracy contributed to the depressed number of voters present at polling stations.

State-controlled television broadcasted images of long queues of voters. However, in the capital city of Tehran, polling stations were largely empty, indicating a lack of enthusiasm among voters. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other officials consistently emphasized the connection between turnout and standing against Iran's enemies. On the other hand, figures such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi called for a boycott, considering the vote to be a "sham."

The upcoming election also holds significance as it will determine the composition of Iran's Assembly of Experts, a panel of clerics responsible for selecting a new supreme leader if needed. Given Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's age of 84, the assembly's role has become increasingly vital. Khamenei, himself, cast one of the first votes, with his left hand visibly trembling due to an old injury sustained in a bombing incident.

Although the country's economy continues to struggle under Western sanctions, Iran's arming of militia proxies in the Middle East and its ongoing conflict in Ukraine, some voters acknowledged the numerous challenges the Islamic Republic faces. Their resounding message was that there are far too many issues that need to be addressed.

The lead-up to the election saw a broad implementation of restrictions on politicians advocating for government reforms. Out of the approximately 15,000 candidates contending for seats in the parliament, only 116 were considered relatively moderate or pro-reform candidates.

Security measures were heavily enforced across the capital and the country as a whole, with over 200,000 security forces deployed and approximately 1 million people involved in running the election. Despite these efforts, estimates indicate that the voter turnout may be on track to become the lowest in history.

The parliament, formally known as the Islamic Consultative Assembly, holds oversight over the executive branch and is responsible for voting on treaties and other important matters. However, it is the supreme leader who ultimately wields the most power in Iran.

The hard-liners have dominated the parliament for the past two decades, often using anti-American rhetoric. Under the speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who supported a harsh crackdown on student protests in 1999, the parliament passed a bill in 2020 that limited Tehran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

In recent times, the parliament's focus shifted to the contentious issue of mandatory hijab laws following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody last year. The incident sparked widespread protests, eventually leading to calls for the overthrowing of Iran's clerical rulers. The subsequent security crackdown resulted in the deaths of over 500 people, with thousands detained.

The election authorities extended the voting time by six hours, closing the polling places at midnight local time. Initial election results are expected to be announced on Saturday, shedding light on the outcomes of the election and the future political landscape of Iran.