In 2017, Rouhani was elected to his second term of office with a landslide defeat of Raisi on a fantastic 73% turnout. Some research has suggested that if Raisi is declared the winner on June 19, it will be on a turnout of something around 40%. Unverified video posts on social media showed many near-deserted polling stations.

Prospect of mass protests

A pitiful turnout would undoubtedly severely damage faith in Iran’s political system and may even raise the prospect of mass protests against the Raisi “fait accompli”, similar to the Green Movement protests that broke out in 2009 following the second presidential win of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, disputed as rigged. A government-ordered crackdown on the demonstrations—sometimes called the “Twitter Revolution” due to the protesters’ reliance on Twitter and other social media to communicate—saw police and paramilitary Basij violently suppress protesters with beatings, pepper spray, arrests and torture. Some demonstrators were even shot dead, while thousands were detained and imprisoned. If there is any sign of large-scale trouble brewing after the election results are announced, expect the authorities to shut down the internet as they have become wont to do.

“If our vote really mattered, we wouldn't be in this constant malaise and dilemma [as to whether to vote]. I think the realisation that nothing will ever change is pervasive among most people these days,” Akram, a 39-year-old female CEO in Tehran, told bne IntelliNews.

“My opinion is that the fundamentals are wrong, it does not matter who will be president as it is only for show, the real decisions come from the Rahbar’s [Supreme Leader’s] office,” said Amir, a 45-year-old jeweller on Tehran’s Ferdowsi Street. “When they don’t even keep their small promises, why the hell would you believe what they say in their election posters?”

The general lack of interest in the election on June 16 drew a response from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He warned Iranians that foreign news organisations were undermining the soul of the country with reports of mass voter apathy. "In less than 48 hours, a crucial event will take place in the country... By your presence and vote, you actually determine the fate of the country, in all major issues," Khamenei said in a televised speech on IRIB.