US Calls First Saudi Arabia’s Poll Open to Women ‘Historic Milestone’

At least 20 Saudi women emerged victorious in Saturday’s historic local elections, in which females in this religiously conservative kingdom were allowed to cast votes and run for office for the first time.

Municipal councils are the only government body elected by citizens and are responsible for only local affairs.

More than 900 women were among the 6,440 candidates standing for seats on 284 councils.

All though these elected female candidates represent just one person of the roughly 2100 municipal council seats but this election is a symbol of a step forward towards women empowerment in the nation.

About 17 women were elected to Saudi Arabia’s municipal councils, four years after the country eased regulations and allowed women to participate in the polls.

Al-Omar said 19 women won seats in 10 regions, with results still to be announced in several more regions.

Saudi Arabia, which is ruled by the al-Saud family of King Salman, has no elected legislature and has faced intense scrutiny from the West over its human rights record.

“I am not really anxious about the number, or to have any women winning”. She was running against seven men and two women. Numerous names of the female winners haven’t been announced, but some have been.

Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy with some of the world’s tightest restrictions on women, including a ban on driving. The councils oversee local issues, including budgets for the upkeep of public facilities.

While the elections mark a historical moment in the Islamic country’s history, Saudi women are still not allowed to drive and remain governed by strict guardianship laws which allow men control over the major aspects of their lives including marriage, travel and education.

“I want to see the woman be more involved in every institution in the government and in the private sector”.

That figure compared with about 50 percent of registered male voters in the regions examined.

Female candidates also were barred from speaking to male voters and required to segregate campaign offices, the organization said.

Men and women vote separately in the kingdom, where the sexes are strictly segregated.