Iranians took to the polls Friday in an election expected to see conservatives tighten their grip on parliament, amid voter apathy after the disqualification of thousands of candidates.
Polls shut at midnight after at least five extensions beyond the originally scheduled 6:00 pm closing time to allow a maximum number of people to cast their ballots, Agence France Presse reported.
Supreme leader Ali Khamenei had urged all Iranians to take part as he cast the first ballot in the election, saying that doing so would "guarantee the country's national interests".
Turnout was estimated at around 40 percent nationwide and 30 percent in Tehran at 1430 GMT, according to Fars news agency, close to the ultra-conservatives.
Fars said the official turnout figure would be released on Saturday, while results are not expected to be announced until Sunday.
Authorities announced schools will be closed Saturday in dozens of urban centers to allow for ballot counting.
Voters formed long queues in the morning at polling stations in south Tehran, where conservatives have a solid support base. Far fewer were seen waiting to vote in upmarket northern neighborhoods.
The election coincided with an outbreak of the new coronavirus that authorities say has killed four people in the country this week.
Around half of the 16,033 hopefuls in the election were barred by the powerful Guardian Council, most of them moderates and reformists.
