The poignant images of the protests following Iran's June 2009 presidential election unleashed an ocean of media and expert discourse on democracy in Iran. Yet, missing from the debate was a clear understanding of Iran's electoral system.

Please join us for the release of the IFES desk study Duality by Design: The Iranian Electoral System, which provides a comprehensive overview of the Iranian electoral framework, and a discussion that builds upon the findings of the desk study by addressing:

• What are the 'rules of the game' for Iran's electoral politics?
• Can Iran’s electoral system, which is highly dependent on the Guardian Council, truly reflect the will of the people?
• Was the controversial 2009 election the product of this system or an outlier?
• Can the same electoral system produce better results in 2012?

Featured Speakers

Barbara Slavin, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and author of Bitter Friends, Bosom Enemies: Iran, the U.S. and the Twisted Path to Confrontation

Andrew Reynolds, associate professor of Political Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Yasmin Alem, author, Duality by Design: The Iranian Electoral System

Moderated by John D. Lawrence, Congressional Affairs Manager, IFES

NOTE: Lunch will be served at 12:00 p.m. Event begins at 12:30 p.m.