TEHRAN - Registration of candidates for the elections to local councils begins on Monday (today) at 8 a.m., the Interior Ministry Election Commission announced on Sunday.

The commission added that the registration will last until October 22.

The third local council elections are scheduled to be held simultaneously with the Assembly of Experts elections on December 15.

Written examination of AE candidates to be held on Oct. 27

Guardian Council spokesman Abbas-Ali Kadkhodaii told reporters here on Saturday that the written examination for Assembly of Experts (AE) candidates will be held simultaneously in Tehran and Qom on October 27.

“The written examination is the best way to screen candidates’ academic qualifications,” he added.

After inspecting the general qualifications, the candidates whose ijtihad (use of reason to arrive at a knowledge of truth in religious matters) is under doubt will be required to take a written examination, and those who pass will be called for an interview, Kadkhodaii said.

The candidates whose general and academic qualifications are approved by the GC do not need to take the exam, he said.

“492 people have signed up to run for the assembly,” he noted.