Women voters hit the identity hurdle

JEDDAH: Female voters in Al-Ahsa have urged the authorities handling the municipal elections to drop the condition of presenting the national identity card while enrolling themselves in the voters’ list. Some women in Madinah too have appealed for more time for voter registration so that they can acquire the identiy cards.
The women in Al-Ahsa said that many Saudi women do not acquire the new identity card and time is very less now to get the same, local media reported on Sunday. The voters’ registration drive in Al-Ahsa is scheduled to begin early next month.
The women are finding the condition as an obstacle to their participation in Saudi Arabia’s first election where females will be allowed to vote and stand as candidates.
The women have appealed to the officials to allow them to register for voting using the old identity cards, family book or any other official identification document.
Al-Ahsa Mayor Adel Mulhem said all efforts are being made to complete the arrangements at the electoral centers for both males and females. “Teams are involved in providing all possible help.”
A number of women in Madinah have appealed to the officials concerned to extend the period for registration of voters until the end of next month so that they can secure the national identity cards .
Yahya Saif, assistant undersecretary of Madinah Services and supervisor of the election committees, said national identity is a must. “If a woman has misplaced the national identity card, she can contact the office of the civil status in her region for help.”