70% of Electorate Expected to Vote in Presidential Election

Over 70% of Iranian electorate are expected to vote in Iran's upcoming presidential election, a new poll has found.

Some 63.5% of respondents surveyed by the Research Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting said they "will participate" in the presidential election and 7.1% said they would "probably participate" in the polls, Press TV reported.

The poll was conducted on over 38,000 people above 18 years in the capital Tehran, provincial capitals, as well as in two populated cities and 10 villages from every one of Iran's provinces from April 30 to May 2.

Some 23.6% of the respondents said they "will not participate" in the presidential election; 1.2% said they would "probably not participate" and 4.6% said they were yet to make up their minds whether to vote or not.

The results of the new poll, which was conducted following the April 28 live debate of presidential candidates, show a meaningful increase in the number of people taking part in presidential election.

A previous survey conducted by IRIB before the live debate showed that only 56.1% of participants would take part in the presidential poll.

Experts have attributed the rise in the number of people willing to vote to the impact of the televised debate, which was the first live debate among candidates running for president.

During the debate, various candidates challenged each other and discussed major issues of the highest interest to Iranian voters.

Iran's 12th presidential election will be held on May 19. According to election authorities, Iranians residing abroad will also be able to vote at polling stations that will be set up in more than 140 countries.

The last presidential poll in Iran saw a turnout of 72.7% from 50.5 million Iranian voters in that election.

About 55 million people are eligible to vote in this year's presidential election.

The six candidates in the election are incumbent President Hassan Rouhani, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, custodian of the shrine of Imam Reza (PBUH), Ebrahim Raeisi, Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri and two former ministers Mostafa Mirsalim and Mostafa Hashemitaba.

City council and midterm parliamentary elections will also be held simultaneously with the presidential votin.