Municipal election ushers in new era for Saudi women

RIYADH: The participation of Saudi women in the upcoming municipal council elections is set to ensure they take their rightful place in boosting social and economic development in the country.
Many women have already begun registering as voters, and would be able to do so later this month as candidates, according to a report published by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Wednesday.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has supported the participation of women because he believes that they are a crucial partner in the country’s ongoing development. However, this participation would take place in line with Islamic laws, the report said.
The third municipal elections was approved in a royal decree last year and would see two-thirds of councils elected. The voting age has been reduced from 21 to 18 years to allow for the participation of young people in the country’s decision-making.
The first elections saw 179 councils set up with 1,212 members, with the second elections having 285 councils and 2,112 members. The upcoming polls would see 284 councils with 3,159 members, two-thirds or 2,106 elected, on condition that each council not exceed 30 members, and with one-third appointed by the minister of municipal and rural affairs.
There are now 424 polling stations for women out of 1,263 in cities and governorates across the Kingdom, with local election committees formed for all regions. These committees oversee the validation of voter’s rolls and the smooth administration of election stations.
Saudi women are seeing municipal councils, which have been granted widespread powers over all types of development, as an opportunity to serve their homeland, and build a bright future under the leadership of King Salman, Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Mohammed bin Naif, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, deputy crown prince, second deputy premier, and minister of defense.
Municipal councils would have significant financial and administrative independence from mayoralties and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs. Councils would operate for four financial years, in line with the government’s fiscal year, with the work extended a further two years if needed by the Council of Ministers.
A significant number of men and women have registered for the elections since the opening day on Saturday, despite the fact that many families were busy preparing their children for the start of the academic year.
This has been the result of awareness campaigns aimed at Saudi women run in major cities and villages, including schools, shopping malls, universities and among civil society associations. There were also lectures, seminars and workshops organized to explain how women would participate within the framework of Islamic laws.
Election committees are making sure that all citizens have an opportunity to participate including those who are ill or have physical disabilities. These people are allowed to nominate a person to participate on their behalf. Their representatives must produce certified documents to do so. If a citizen cannot participate, like a prisoner or detainee, then a representative must be given power of attorney to do so.
A woman reporter from the SPA recently interviewed several women about how they view the upcoming polls. Asma Al-Aodee, a citizen, said: “The municipal elections will allow every citizen to exercise his or her rights, for the benefit of their cities. It is the right of women to participate.”
Fatema Al-Qahtani, another citizen, said that women voters expect elected officials to serve their nation properly, whether this concerns the rights of women, those with special needs, or young girls and boys, who are the future of Saudi Arabia.