Narratives of Electoral Disenfranchisement in Marginalized Populations

Abstract

This study aims to explore the lived experiences of electoral disenfranchisement among marginalized populations in Tehran, focusing on how structural, psychological, and cultural mechanisms shape their exclusion from political participation. Adopting a qualitative narrative inquiry approach, this research involved semi-structured interviews with 17 participants from socioeconomically and politically marginalized communities in Tehran. Participants were selected using purposive sampling to ensure variation in gender, ethnicity, and residential status. Interviews were conducted in Persian and transcribed verbatim. Data collection continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Thematic narrative analysis was employed to analyze the transcripts using NVivo 12 software. Codes were developed inductively and organized into themes and subthemes that captured the participants' perceptions and experiences of disenfranchisement. Three main themes emerged from the data: (1) Structural barriers to participation, including bureaucratic obstacles, geographic isolation, legal disqualification, and digital exclusion; (2) Psychological and social disengagement, such as fear of reprisal, political disillusionment, and community apathy; and (3) Resistance and agency, which encompassed informal political organizing, symbolic acts of voting, and peer civic education. Participants reported feeling both institutionally excluded and internally alienated, but many also demonstrated resilience and political creativity through alternative forms of engagement. Electoral disenfranchisement in marginalized populations is a multidimensional phenomenon shaped by systemic exclusion, internalized marginality, and restricted civic infrastructure. Despite these barriers, individuals continue to assert political agency through informal and symbolic means. Policymakers must address both structural and psychosocial dimensions of exclusion to foster inclusive democratic participation and rebuild institutional trust in vulnerable communities.