Can Women Vote In Iran 2024? Navigating Rights And Realities

Arianna Pagac 19 Jun 2025

The question of whether women can vote in Iran in 2024 is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. While Iranian law explicitly grants women the right to cast their ballots, the reality of their political participation is shaped by a complex interplay of legal frameworks, societal norms, and the prevailing political climate. Understanding this requires a look at Iran's unique historical trajectory regarding women's rights, the specific conditions of the recent 2024 elections, and the ongoing struggles faced by women seeking broader freedoms and genuine political influence.

Historically speaking, women’s suffrage—the right of women to vote in elections—is a remarkably recent development in the modern world. Although the state of New Jersey experimented with women’s suffrage from 1776 to 1807, the earliest permanent establishment of women’s suffrage in a full province (Pitcairn Islands) did not appear until 1838. Most sources agree that widespread, universal women's suffrage is largely a 20th-century phenomenon. Iran's journey in this regard reflects a broader global trend, yet it also carries distinct characteristics shaped by its own socio-political evolution.

The Long Road to Suffrage: A Global and Iranian Perspective
Women's Suffrage in Iran: A Right Established
Beyond the Ballot: Restrictions on Political Participation
The 2024 Iranian Elections: A Closer Look
Women Candidates in 2024: Numbers and Realities
The Shadow of Disillusionment: Boycotts and Protests
Voting Day Realities: Hijab and Access
The Ongoing Struggle for Broader Freedoms

The Long Road to Suffrage: A Global and Iranian Perspective

The concept of universal suffrage, where all adult citizens, regardless of gender, race, or wealth, have the right to vote, is a relatively modern ideal. For centuries, voting rights were often restricted to land-owning men, or those of a certain social standing. The struggle for women’s suffrage, therefore, was a global movement that gained significant momentum in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Iran's path to granting women the right to vote is part of this broader historical narrative, yet it unfolded within a unique national context.

Early Experiments and Global Trends

While some isolated instances of women's voting rights appeared as early as the late 18th century, like New Jersey's brief experiment, these were anomalies rather than the norm. The true wave of women's suffrage began in earnest in the British Empire, with the Pitcairn Islands leading the way in 1838. New Zealand followed in 1893, becoming the first self-governing country to grant women the right to vote in parliamentary elections. Finland was the first European country to do so in 1906, and the United States followed in 1920. This global progression set a precedent, influencing nations worldwide, including those in the Middle East, to consider expanding electoral participation.

Iran's Progressive Steps

The past century in Iran shows a gradual, and at times fiercely opposed, broadening of women’s rights. This progression wasn't linear and often faced significant resistance, but it marked crucial turning points for Iranian women. For instance, in 1936, Iran opened its first university, admitting both men and women, a significant step towards gender equality in education. This educational advancement laid a foundation for women's increased participation in public life and their growing awareness of their rights. These early reforms, often driven by modernization efforts, set the stage for more significant legal changes concerning women's political rights.

Women's Suffrage in Iran: A Right Established

A pivotal moment for women's political rights in Iran occurred in 1963 when women were given the right to vote. This was part of the Shah's "White Revolution," a series of reforms aimed at modernizing the country and expanding social freedoms. The enfranchisement of women was a significant step, aligning Iran with many developed nations that had already granted women the right to vote. This right, once established, has not been formally revoked. Iranian law explicitly allows women to vote, and this right cannot be revoked even by the court, a point that emphasizes its legal solidity.

Even when many women’s rights established under the monarchy were revoked after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the fundamental right to vote was not among them. This is a crucial distinction. While other areas of women's lives, particularly concerning dress code, family law, and public presence, saw significant restrictions imposed under the new Islamic Republic, the right to cast a ballot remained intact. This means that in 2024, as in previous years, Iranian women are legally permitted to participate in elections by voting.

Beyond the Ballot: Restrictions on Political Participation

While women in Iran have the right to vote, they face severe restrictions on their participation in political life beyond simply casting a ballot. The ability to vote is one aspect of political freedom; the ability to run for office, hold positions of power, and influence policy is another. In Iran, women encounter significant barriers in these latter areas, which ultimately limit their overall political agency.

The Post-Revolution Landscape

After the Islamic Revolution, while the right to vote was preserved, the scope of women's public and political roles was redefined within an Islamic framework. This redefinition often led to limitations on their ability to hold high-level political positions, particularly the presidency. Although there's no explicit law forbidding women from becoming president, interpretations of the constitution and the Guardian Council's vetting process have historically prevented women from being approved as candidates for the highest office. This interpretative barrier significantly curtails the aspirations of women seeking to reach the pinnacle of political power.

Challenges in Candidacy and Public Life

Beyond the presidency, women face a rigorous vetting process by the Guardian Council for all electoral positions, including parliamentary seats. This council, responsible for ensuring candidates adhere to Islamic and revolutionary principles, often disqualifies a vast number of potential candidates, including many women. This strict vetting process means that while many women may register to run, only a select few are ultimately approved to compete in elections. The criteria for approval are often opaque and can be used to sideline voices deemed undesirable by the establishment, including those advocating for more progressive women's rights.

The 2024 Iranian Elections: A Closer Look

The year 2024 saw two significant elections in Iran: the parliamentary elections in March and a snap presidential election in June/July following the death of incumbent President Ebrahim Raisi. Both elections provided a contemporary snapshot of women's participation and the challenges they face. The early presidential elections in Iran were held on June 28 and July 5, 2024, following the death of incumbent president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19. These events brought the question of "can women vote in Iran 2024" into sharp focus, not just in terms of their right to vote, but also their presence as candidates and voters.

For the presidential election, four candidates contested the first round of the election, in which Masoud Pezeshkian won 44%, Saeed Jalili won 40%, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf won 14%, and Mostafa Pourmohammadi won less than 1% of the vote. The electoral process, including candidate eligibility and campaigning, is tightly controlled. Iranian law mandates that candidates must be between 40 and 75 years old and have at least a master’s degree, four years of experience in state administration, and no criminal record. While these criteria apply to all, the Guardian Council's interpretation of "religious and revolutionary qualifications" often becomes the primary hurdle for many, especially women seeking to break traditional molds.

Women Candidates in 2024: Numbers and Realities

Despite the hurdles, the number of women registering to run for office in Iran has shown some fluctuations. For the parliamentary elections in 2024, some 1,713 women were featured in the list of approved candidates issued by Iran's Guardian Council ahead of the election. This number was more than double the number allowed to run in the last vote, which stood at 819. This increase might suggest a slight opening, or perhaps a strategic move by the authorities, but it doesn't necessarily translate into a proportional increase in elected women or a greater influence on policy-making. The sheer volume of registered candidates, both male and female, is drastically reduced by the Guardian Council's vetting process, ensuring that only those deemed acceptable by the establishment can actually compete.

The fact that 1,713 women were approved candidates, more than double the previous election's 819, is a noteworthy statistic. However, it's essential to consider this within the broader context of thousands of hopefuls, many of whom are disqualified. The approval of more women candidates does not automatically signify a fundamental shift in the power structure or an easing of the deeper restrictions on women's political participation. It primarily means more women were allowed to appear on the ballot, allowing citizens to exercise their right to vote in Iran in 2024 for a wider pool of female candidates, albeit still within strict parameters.

The Shadow of Disillusionment: Boycotts and Protests

The political landscape in Iran is also heavily influenced by public sentiment, particularly among women. Months ahead of the Iranian elections, notable members of the women’s rights movement, such as the 2023 Nobel Peace Laureate Narges Mohammadi, advocated for a boycott of the electoral process. Their argument was that the system, by design, sidelines opposition voices, particularly feminist and progressive ones, rendering the elections illegitimate in their eyes. This call for a boycott highlights a deep-seated disillusionment with a system perceived as unrepresentative and restrictive.

While many Iranian women grew disillusioned in the aftermath of the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests that swept the nation, for others, the turning point came even earlier. These protests, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, brought global attention to the severe restrictions faced by women in Iran, particularly concerning the mandatory hijab. The call for a boycott by prominent figures like Narges Mohammadi underscores a growing belief among activists that participation in such elections legitimizes a system that actively suppresses fundamental rights. This creates a complex dilemma for women: exercise their legal right to vote in Iran in 2024, or boycott to protest the system's inherent limitations?

Voting Day Realities: Hijab and Access

Even on voting day, the exercise of the right to vote can be fraught with challenges for women. Reports surfaced on social media about women being prevented from entering polling stations without hijab during the first round of the 14th presidential election. This highlights a critical tension: while the right to vote has not been revoked in any law, and it cannot be revoked even by the court, according to officials, the enforcement of mandatory dress codes can become a de facto barrier to exercising this right. The statement "referring to women who would appear without the mandatory hijab" suggests that while the legal right to vote remains, practical enforcement of other laws can complicate its exercise.

An image of Iranian women queuing to vote at a polling station in a snap presidential election to choose a successor to Ebrahim Raisi following his death in a helicopter crash, in Tehran, Iran, on June 28, 2024, visually confirms women's presence at the polls. However, the reports of denied entry due to dress code violations indicate that even the seemingly straightforward act of voting can be conditional. This issue underscores the broader struggle over women's autonomy and freedom of choice in Iran, where even a fundamental right like voting can be intertwined with compliance to state-imposed social norms. The extension of voting hours, as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei called for a high turnout, suggests a desire for broad participation, yet the reported incidents at polling stations reveal underlying tensions.

The Ongoing Struggle for Broader Freedoms

The question of "can women vote in Iran 2024" extends beyond the simple act of casting a ballot. It encompasses the broader struggle for women's rights and freedoms in the country. While the right to vote is legally enshrined, the severe restrictions on political participation, the rigorous vetting of candidates, and the societal pressures, including those related to the mandatory hijab, paint a picture of limited agency. The choice of dress code as a right was not taken up by Iran’s women’s movement as a collective issue until recently, highlighting a shift in focus and a growing demand for personal freedoms alongside political ones.

The high number of executions of women in 2024, with 31 women executed, the highest number since 2010, further underscores the perilous environment for women's rights activists and ordinary citizens. This stark statistic, though not directly related to voting, reflects the broader challenges to human rights and freedoms in Iran, which inevitably impact the space for women's political and social activism. The brief campaigning period for candidates—from February 22 to February 29 for the first round and May 2 to May 9, 2024, for the second round—also limits the ability of new voices, including women, to effectively reach the electorate and challenge established norms.

In conclusion, Iranian women do have the legal right to vote in 2024, and many actively participate in elections, as evidenced by queues at polling stations. However, this right exists within a highly restrictive political system that severely limits women's ability to run for office, influence policy, and express dissent. The ongoing struggles over mandatory dress codes, the high rate of candidate disqualifications, and the calls for boycotts by prominent activists highlight that while the ballot box is accessible, true political empowerment for women in Iran remains a distant goal. The journey of women's rights in Iran is a complex tapestry of historical gains, post-revolutionary setbacks, and an enduring fight for greater freedoms and genuine equality.

What are your thoughts on the complexities of women's political participation in Iran? Share your perspectives in the comments below, or explore other articles on our site discussing human rights and electoral processes in the Middle East.

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