The measure to transform Iran into an "Islamic Republic" was approved by 98.2% of eligible voters. A high voter turnout was reported nationwide, except in
Turkmen Sahra and
Kurdistan, where the referendum was not fully held due to
ongoing armed conflicts.
Dispute over legitimacy Ahead of the referendum, the
Interim Government of Iran invited a four-man delegation from
International Association of Democratic Lawyers to
monitor the voting process. Nuri Albala, a French member of the delegation, told
The New York Times that "there were no
booths, and voting was
done in the presence of Islamic officials, often amid dozens of posters calling for a yes vote. There were many reports of
polling officers tearing off the green‐colored "yes" portions of the ballots and
stuffing them in the boxes on behalf of the voters...A number of young voters told reporters that they were afraid to openly vote no in the presence of so many others who felt otherwise". Numerous political parties, such as the
National Democratic Front and the
People's Fedai Guerrillas, boycotted both participation in and the results of the referendum. The
People's Mojahedin Organization, the
Tudeh Party, the
Freedom Movement, the
National Front, and the
Muslim People's Republican Party, while approving the referendum, "objected to the imposition of Khomeini's choice". ==Party policies==