Iran’s Presidential Election: Voting in Hyderabad and Other Indian Cities

The Iranian consulate in Hyderabad has set up a ballot box for the fourteenth presidential election in Iran. This election follows the tragic death of the last president, Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter crash last month.

Voting Locations in India

Consul General Mahdi Shahrokhi explained that ballot boxes are available in four Indian cities: New Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. The election process started at 8 am and will continue until 6 pm. Only Iranians with Iranian passports and full Iranian nationality are eligible to vote.

Small Iranian Community in Hyderabad

Shahrokhi mentioned that the Iranian community in Hyderabad is small, with around 1,000 members. However, Iranians with Indian nationality are not eligible to vote.

Personal Stories

Samayi Bisharati, an Iranian resident living in Bangalore, shared her experience of driving over ten and a half hours to Hyderabad to cast her vote. She has been voting in Iranian presidential elections since she was eligible and this is her second time voting in India.

Polling Stations in Iran

In Iran, 58,640 polling stations have been set up in public spaces like mosques and schools. The election aims to find a successor to Ebrahim Raisi.