8 March and 19 April 1996 2000 → Turnout 71.10% 1988 1996 | Registered 24,716,692 1979 1988 Did not stand Did not stand | |
 | ||
Parliamentary elections were held in Iran on 8 March 1996, with a second round on 19 April. The Combatant Clergy Association and its allies emerged as the largest bloc in the Majlis, winning 110 of the 270 seats.
Contents
Electoral system
The constitution approved in a December 1979 referendum provided for a 270-seat Majlis, with five seats reserved for minority groups including Jews, Zorastrians, Armenians from the north and south of the country and one jointly elected by Assyrians and Chaldeans.
The elections were conducted using a two-round system, with the number of candidates progressing to the second round being double the number of seats available. Candidates required an absolute majority to win a seat in the first round, and plurality to win in the second round.
Campaign
A total of 3,726 candidates contested the elections, including around 326 women. 145 seats were won in the first round of voting.
Main groups contesting in the elections were:
15 Freedom Movement members presented themselves as candidates and only 4 of them made it through initial vetting, 3 of whom were excluded before polling day. The organizaion announced its intention to withdraw from the election. The election was boycotted by the National Front and Nation Party.
Aftermath
The newly elected Majlis met for the first time on 1 June.