Women register to vote for first time in Saudi Arabia

Women in Saudi Arabia have started registering to vote for the first time in upcoming municipal elections set to take place in December later this year. 

Official voter registration began on Saturday, Aug. 22, while candidate registration will start on Aug. 30, local media has reported.

According to a report published by the state-owned Saudi Gazette, Jamaal Al Saadi, who chaired the real estate committee of the Madinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was the first woman to register for the elections in the city.

“The participation of the Saudi women in the municipal elections as voters and candidates was a dream for us,” Saadi was quoted by the gazette as saying. “The move will enable Saudi women to have a say in the process of the decision-making.” 

She also didn’t dismiss the possibility of nominating herself for candidacy.

Women will only be allowed to vote in municipality elections, according to the report. The December election will be the first chance for women to vote since now-deceased King Abdullah granted women some rights for political participation in 2011. 

In 2013, a royal decree was passed ordering that the Consultative Council, which advises the king, be at least 20 percent women.