In politics, not everything is measured by the ballot box. Nations sometimes speak in moments when no ballots are cast, no electoral competition is underway, and no official institution has asked for public input. Yet these moments can reveal more about a society’s condition, citizens’ sense of belonging, and their relationship with national identity and authority than many formal elections. The national funeral of Iran’s martyred leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, is one such event. Public farewell rites opened in Tehran on July 4, and the capital’s main procession on July 6 brought a million-strong public presence into the streets. The ceremonies are continuing through their final stages and are scheduled to conclude with burial in Mashhad on July 9. […]