Everything you need to know about this week's elections in Iran

Iranian politics are often described as a battle between Reformists and conservatives. But since there are no official political parties in the Islamic Republic of Iran, this view is highly simplistic and sometimes inaccurate. In Iran, major political power brokers align among fluid and sometimes blurred factions and groupings. Major political events often dictate the platform of these factions rather than the reverse.

With an economy stabilized but not yet recovered and many campaign promises still unfulfilled, President Hassan Rouhani is hoping that the Feb. 26 elections brings about a grouping of parliamentary factions that will cooperate with rather than hinder his policies.

Whereas in the United States, campaign season feels like an unending affair, in Iran, the window for official campaigning — in which candidates can hold rallies and advertise — is very short. This year, campaigning began Feb 18. It will end just one day before the elections, on Feb. 25. One week of campaigning offers new candidates and lesser-known political figures very little time to create the momentum and publicity necessary to attract a high number of votes.

Perhaps due to the narrow campaign window and the sheer number of candidates — approximately 6,200 this year — parliamentary elections rarely have the same weight and enthusiasm as presidential elections. The presidential elections of 2013 saw a nearly 73% voter turnout. The 2012 parliamentary elections, which many Reformists boycotted in the wake of the contested 2009 presidential elections and the subsequent crackdown on protests, had a reported 64% voter turnout. However, that figure was questioned by non-Iranian media outlets, which pointed to a delay in reporting by the Interior Ministry.