ABSTRACT
The controversial presidential electoral process that took place in Iran on 12 June 2009 brought to attention the importance of the guarantees of transparency and integrity of its electoral procedures, mechanisms and publication of the results. The reliability of the final outcome of the polls serves as an instrument of legitimacy for every political system in the world, in particular for those which were established through revolutionary means. The Iranian electoral system and its history are a perfect study case to observe how elections work to legitimize or delegitimize the government, and how seriously the elite pays attention to the electoral procedures and final outcomes.
