Assessing the Contexts Affecting the Financial Costs of Parliamentary Elections in Iran and its Consequences (Case Study: Tenth Election of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Rasht)

Abstract

This study investigates the factors affecting the financial costs of the Islamic Consultative Assembly elections and its consequences on the democratic process. In this regard, the financial expenses of the candidates of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of the tenth election of Rasht city were examined. The research method was the survey, and two questionnaires and semi-in-depth interviews were used. The study's statistical population was all citizens over the age of 20 living in Rasht, whose number is approximately equal to 625,500 people. Cochran's formula was used to estimate the sample size, and the sample size was 384 people. The results showed that the most important factors influencing the methods of financing parliamentary elections in Iran are voters 'political knowledge, citizen's relationship with the representative, citizens' attitudes toward the type of electoral system, number, and variety of sponsors and their motives, type of political system and status. Economic community. Almost 95% of the respondents emphasized that the short-term interests of the citizens, especially their sponsors, prevail over other matters and that there is a kind of institutionalized supportive relationship. The findings also suggest that current laws should be reviewed, and the experiences of other countries should be used to reduce the adverse consequences of financing and spending political money.

Keywords

• elections
• islamic consultative assembly
• rasht city
• election expenses
• election candidates