On March 14, Iranian voters will head to the polls for parliamentary elections in which hundreds of reformist candidates have been sidelined, clearing the way for a contest between rival conservative blocs. One of the conservative factions supports President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; the other is anchored by Ali Larijani, the former top nuclear negotiator.

Broadly, the polls have been described as a referendum on the popularity of President Ahmadinejad, whose administration has been marked by U.S.-led concern over Iran's nuclear program, prisoner abuse allegations, the closure of independent media outlets, a crackdown on citizens who don't strictly observe Islamic dress, the arrests of Iranian-American intellectuals on suspicion of espionage, and, above all in voters' minds, a flagging economy.

Iranians will pick lawmakers to fill 290 seats for four-year terms on the Islamic Consultative Council, or Iran's parliament. The unicameral body has the power to introduce and pass legislation and to keep tabs on the executive branch. (It should be noted that the most powerful figure in Iran is not the president, but the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.)

For more information on the Iranian elections, check out the following Web sites that explain the process, detail voters' top issues, give background to the political rivalries and illustrate what's at stake with these polls. Feel free to suggest other sources; this list is by no means comprehensive.

MIDDLE EAST PROGRESS: This site gives the nuts and bolts of the election, with links to commentary and analysis.

ANGUS REID GLOBAL MONITOR: This independent, non-partisan think tank has a useful timeline of political milestones leading up to the vote March 14.

THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY: An expert from this pro-Israel think tank explains the infighting among the "doomed reformists" and the "battling conservatives."

PAYVAND IRAN NEWS: Perhaps the best clearinghouse for all news about Iran, from restaurant reviews to sports scores. Look under the "politics" header for election news.