Iranian local elections, 2003

Iranian City and Village Councils elections, 2003 took place in February, 2003, the second time local elections had taken place since being introduced in 1999 as part of President Khatami's concept of a civil society at the grassroots level. 905 city councils and 34,205 village councils were up for election. In Tehran and some of the major cities, all of the seats were taken back by conservatives over reformists. This swing was caused by widespread abstention from the local elections. In Tehran only 12% of the electorate voted, following appeals by reformist groups.