Washington, DC— The National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI) has sent letters to the governors of 20 U.S. states as well as the Mayor of DC, expressing strong disapproval of the establishment of voting stations on U.S. soil for the upcoming Iranian presidential election scheduled for June 28.

In these letters, NUFDI highlighted concerns regarding the presence of Islamic Republic of Iran voting stations on U.S. soil, underscoring the importance of ensuring that U.S. policies and actions align with democratic principles and the protection of human rights.

Read the text of one letter below:

"Dear Governor Hobbs,

We are writing to bring to your attention a matter of significant concern regarding the upcoming elections of the Islamic Republic of Iran. As an Iranian-American organization dedicated to democracy and human rights in Iran and concerned about the security and interests of the United States, we are deeply troubled by the Islamic Republic regime’s plans to host absentee election polling stations in Arizona this Friday June 28th.

The Islamic Republic's record of electoral unfairness is well-documented by international observers, who consistently highlight systematic irregularities and severe restrictions on candidate eligibility as fundamental flaws that undermine any semblance of democratic legitimacy. As U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Abram Paley wrote today, “the U.S. unfortunately has no expectation of free and fair elections or fundamental change in Iran’s direction.” Put simply: these “elections” make a mockery of democracy.

We believe that hosting absentee polling stations for the Islamic Republic of Iran within the United States sends the wrong message to American citizens and the international community about our commitment to democratic values and human rights. By allowing such polling stations, we inadvertently lend legitimacy to a regime that routinely violates the rights of its own citizens and destabilizes regional stability through its aggressive foreign policy and support for terrorism. It is also a security threat to the United States and the people of your state.

Therefore, we urge you, as the Governor of Arizona, to reconsider the decision to allow these absentee polling stations to operate within your state and, if deemed necessary by your state’s law enforcement, investigate those involved in hosting these polling locations. Denying the Islamic Republic a platform for its sham election circus aligns with our values as Americans and would be an appreciated step in support of the Iranian people's aspiration for genuine democracy and fundamental rights.

The Islamic Republic is an enemy of the United States and an enemy of the freedom-seeking Iranian people. It does not deserve to be allowed to conduct this circus in your great state.

We look forward to your prompt consideration of this matter and would welcome the opportunity to discuss it further with your office.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.

Sincerely,

Cameron Khansarinia
VICE PRESIDENT, NUFDI"

Letters have been sent to the following:

Governor of Arizona Katie Hobbs

Governor of California Gavin Newsom

Mayor of DC Muriel Bowser

Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis

Governor of Georgia Brian Kemp

Governor of Illinois J.B. Pritzker

Governor of Maryland Wes Moore

Governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer

Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz

Governor of Kansas Laura Kelly

Governor of Nebraska Jim Pillen

Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy

Governor of New York Kathy Hochul

Governor of North Carolina Roy Cooper

Governor of Ohio Mike DeWine

Governor of Oklahoma Kevin Stitt

Governor of Oregon Tina Kotek

Governor of Texas Greg Abbott

Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin

Governor of Washington Jay Inslee

Governor of Wisconsin Tony Evers

For press inquiries, please contact press@nufdiran.org