Votingfor Irans two crucial elections, the 10th parliamentary elections and the 5th Assembly of Experts elections which held simultaneously, began this morning across the country and millions of Iranians cast their ballots to choose their representatives.
According to the country's interior ministry, some 55 million people were eligible to vote in the two elections.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei cast his ballot a short time after the polls were started off across the country and urged Iranian people to be present at the ballot boxes as early as possible.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also voted shortly after the polls opened, and like the Supreme Leader, called for Iranians high turnout in the elections.
After casting their ballots, grand Ayatollahs in Qom, emphasized the importance of peoples massive participation in disappointing the enemies.
Reports from polling stations around the country indicate people's massive participation in the elections.
An informed source told reporters that given the high voters turnout, polling hours will be extended to late hours at night, and it is anticipated that the number of voters be increased in the last hours of voting as Iranians usually do their works in the final hours.
Early counting of votes will begin manually when the voting process ends. And it is predicted that due to the large vote, the definitive results of Tehran's polling stations will not be announced until Monday.
There are currently 290 seats in the Iranian parliament, elected by direct vote of people in nationwide election for four years.
The Assembly of Experts is also a high-ranking body that elects and oversees the activities of the leader of the Islamic Revolution. Members of the assembly are directly elected to office by people for an eight-year term.
