Saudi Arabia Elections Without Women

Saudi Arabia holds its municipal elections without the participation of women

Recently it was announced that women will vote within 4 years.

Election day was conducted without notable incident.

Women shall be entitled to vote in Saudi Arabia after their king so decide.

Saudi Arabia held on Thursday the second elections in its history to elect municipal councils, with a low voter turnout and without the participation of women, who may not vote for another four years. The Saudi authorities said that the election day was uneventful , although there were some observers who gave up their work and make allegations of sending messages to urge to vote for certain candidates participation in these elections, which had registered as voters under a million and a half men, which represents 35% of the voting population, was uneven across regions. While the polling stations in the main cities were no crowds, the turnout was more intense in medium-sized cities. The weak participation was expected due to the lack of confidence in decision-making powers of municipal councils, which responsible for providing recommendations and advice without any power of censorship or control in the internal affairs of the country, ruled by a monarchy with absolute power. Other factors that have affected are the low proportion of residents with voting rights and the prohibition for women , historically marginalized in this country ultraconservative imposed gender segregation in public spaces. Although the past 25 days Saudi King Abdallah bin Abdelaziz , decided to allow women to participate as voters and candidates in municipal elections, this does not apply until the next election in four years. The Minister of Local Government and Villages Saudi Prince Mansour bin Metaab, told reporters that the elections are conducted correctly. Metaab recalled that the first municipal elections in 2005, they turned to the U.S. experience, European countries and the UN, but on this occasion was not necessary. "The (election) is now made entirely with hand Saudis and involving more than 16,000 people and trained people, "he said during an inspection of the electoral process in the Al Darai, near Riyadh.

Not until 2016

He said that his ministry receives comments from the public and the media and expressed his hope that these "proposals to improve the work of municipal councils . " Although the authorities that affect the day passed without incident, there were allegations of sending text messages to mobile phones urging voters to choose and discriminate against certain lists other for religious reasons. A member of the Electoral Commission of Jeddah Abdelaziz Anhari stressed that "this kind of practice is forbidden by Saudi law" and said claims that the committee discuss the matter on Saturday. The absence of international observers was justified by the Electoral Commission Chairman, the Dahmesh Abdelrrahman, who said he has been employed freelancers Saudis "to ensure transparency and good organization of this operation."