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| Saudi women go to polls in landmark election | Saudi women go to polls in landmark election |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Saudi Arabian women are heading to polling stations as both voters and candidates for the first time in the country’s history. | Saudi Arabian women are heading to polling stations as both voters and candidates for the first time in the country’s history. |
| More than 5,000 men and around 980 women are standing as candidates for municipal council seats on Saturday. More than 130,000 women have registered to vote, compared with 1.35 million men. | More than 5,000 men and around 980 women are standing as candidates for municipal council seats on Saturday. More than 130,000 women have registered to vote, compared with 1.35 million men. |
| The election, which does not have quotas for females, is widely regarded as a small but significant opening for women to play a more equal role in Saudi society. | The election, which does not have quotas for females, is widely regarded as a small but significant opening for women to play a more equal role in Saudi society. |
| Not many women are expected to win seats because of the number of male candidates and because many had no previous experience running campaigns. Many also said they could not afford the high cost of running a public campaign. | Not many women are expected to win seats because of the number of male candidates and because many had no previous experience running campaigns. Many also said they could not afford the high cost of running a public campaign. |
| “I don’t consider winning to be the ultimate goal ... but it is the right of being a citizen that I concentrate on and I consider this a turning point,” said Hatoon al-Fassi, general coordinator for the grassroots Saudi Baladi Initiative that worked closely with women to raise voter awareness and increase female participation. “We are looking at it as an opportunity to exercise our right and to push for more.” | “I don’t consider winning to be the ultimate goal ... but it is the right of being a citizen that I concentrate on and I consider this a turning point,” said Hatoon al-Fassi, general coordinator for the grassroots Saudi Baladi Initiative that worked closely with women to raise voter awareness and increase female participation. “We are looking at it as an opportunity to exercise our right and to push for more.” |
| Related: Saudi women can run for public office, but they’re far from equal to men | Abeer Mishkhas | |
| The female candidates will not only be contending with men, but with a deep societal belief among many voters that women do not belong in public life. | The female candidates will not only be contending with men, but with a deep societal belief among many voters that women do not belong in public life. |
| Outside a polling station in the capital, Riyadh, Abdullah al-Maiteb said: “Her role is not in such places. Her role is at home managing the house and raising a new generation. If we allow her out of the house to do such business, who is going to take care of my sons?” | Outside a polling station in the capital, Riyadh, Abdullah al-Maiteb said: “Her role is not in such places. Her role is at home managing the house and raising a new generation. If we allow her out of the house to do such business, who is going to take care of my sons?” |
| Municipal councils are the only government body in which Saudi citizens can elect their representatives. It’s the third time in recent decades that men have been allowed to vote: the first election was held in 2005 and the second in 2011, with only men taking part. | Municipal councils are the only government body in which Saudi citizens can elect their representatives. It’s the third time in recent decades that men have been allowed to vote: the first election was held in 2005 and the second in 2011, with only men taking part. |
| In line with gender segregation rules, men and women would vote at separate polling stations. Also, female candidates were not allowed to directly address male voters, having to either make presentations from behind partitions, relying on projectors and microphones, or via male supporters and relatives. | In line with gender segregation rules, men and women would vote at separate polling stations. Also, female candidates were not allowed to directly address male voters, having to either make presentations from behind partitions, relying on projectors and microphones, or via male supporters and relatives. |
| The candidates are vying for around 2,100 council seats with an additional 1,050 seats appointed with approval from the king. While the councils do not have legislative powers, they do oversee a range of community issues, such as budgets for maintaining and improving public facilities. All major decision-making powers rest solely with King Salman and the all-male cabinet of ministers. | The candidates are vying for around 2,100 council seats with an additional 1,050 seats appointed with approval from the king. While the councils do not have legislative powers, they do oversee a range of community issues, such as budgets for maintaining and improving public facilities. All major decision-making powers rest solely with King Salman and the all-male cabinet of ministers. |
| Karen Young, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington DC, predicted the success rate of women in the elections would be “slim to zero”. | Karen Young, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington DC, predicted the success rate of women in the elections would be “slim to zero”. |
| “There is not a clear understanding of what the value of representation can be within the current political system, though there are many activists who are committed to continuing this opening and trying to expand it inch by inch,” she said. | “There is not a clear understanding of what the value of representation can be within the current political system, though there are many activists who are committed to continuing this opening and trying to expand it inch by inch,” she said. |