Saudi Women Allowed to Vote and Stand as Candidates in Municipal Elections
For the first time, women in Saudi Arabia have begun registering to vote in municipal elections and are able to be a part of the electoral process in the kingdom. They can now also stand as candidates in the polls, which are planned for December.
Two women from Mecca and Medina have already become the first female voters to register.
A third of the 1,263 voting centres are specifically reserved for female voters, according to the Saudi Gazette. In addition, Amnesty International claimed that this process was long overdue but that it is only a small step towards addressing other issues related to gender equality.
However, Saudi women are still not able to travel, work, study or marry without permission of a male guardian.
