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| Women in Saudi Arabia voting for first time | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Saudi Arabia is going to the polls in unprecedented municipal elections in which women can cast a ballot for the first time. | |
| Women are also standing as candidates, another first, despite the conservative kingdom being the only nation where women are not allowed to drive. | |
| A total of 978 women have registered as candidates, alongside 5,938 men. | A total of 978 women have registered as candidates, alongside 5,938 men. |
| Female candidates have had to speak behind a partition during campaign appearances or be represented by a man. | Female candidates have had to speak behind a partition during campaign appearances or be represented by a man. |
| Quiz: Life as a woman in Saudi Arabia | Quiz: Life as a woman in Saudi Arabia |
| About 130,000 women have registered to vote, officials say. That figure still falls well short of male voter registration, which stands at 1.35 million. | About 130,000 women have registered to vote, officials say. That figure still falls well short of male voter registration, which stands at 1.35 million. |
| Salma al-Rashed was the first woman to register to vote. "It felt really good," she told the BBC. "Change is a big word but the election is the way to make sure we are really represented." | Salma al-Rashed was the first woman to register to vote. "It felt really good," she told the BBC. "Change is a big word but the election is the way to make sure we are really represented." |
| Elections themselves are a rare thing in the Saudi kingdom - Saturday will be only the third time in history that Saudis have gone to the polls. | Elections themselves are a rare thing in the Saudi kingdom - Saturday will be only the third time in history that Saudis have gone to the polls. |
| There were no elections in the 40 years between 1965 and 2005. | There were no elections in the 40 years between 1965 and 2005. |
| The decision to allow women to take part was taken by the late King Abdullah and is seen as a key part of his legacy. | The decision to allow women to take part was taken by the late King Abdullah and is seen as a key part of his legacy. |
| In announcing the reforms, King Abdullah said women in Saudi Arabia "have demonstrated positions that expressed correct opinions and advice". | In announcing the reforms, King Abdullah said women in Saudi Arabia "have demonstrated positions that expressed correct opinions and advice". |
| Before he died in January, he appointed 30 women to the country's top advisory Shura Council. | Before he died in January, he appointed 30 women to the country's top advisory Shura Council. |
| There are 2,100 council seats available in Saturday's vote. An additional 1,050 seats are appointed with approval from the king. | There are 2,100 council seats available in Saturday's vote. An additional 1,050 seats are appointed with approval from the king. |
| The results of the elections are expected to be announced later on Saturday. | The results of the elections are expected to be announced later on Saturday. |