Iran elections are an opportunity for women to reshape their govt

On May 19, Iranians nationwide will vote for president and for candidates in local elections, selecting representatives for city and village councils. The public's attention has been focused largely on the presidential race, but local elections offer citizens a unique chance to make a direct impact on their communities by choosing officials with their local interests in mind. The elections also present Iranians with the chance to reshape their government by putting more women in politics.

There are 287,425 registered candidates in Iran's local elections this year, including 17,885 women. This means women candidates make up 6.3 percent of all candidates