Saudi- All systems go for 1st civic vote with women's participation

(MENAFN- Arab News) Preparations have been stepped up for the upcoming municipal council elections which will see for the first time women participating in the polls as voters and candidates.

Municipal and Rural Affairs Minister Prince Mansour bin Miteb has set up a high-level committee including three leading women to oversee the election.

'The committee will supervise the election process in all regions of the Kingdom and implement election strategies' he said.

Last July the Council of Ministers passed a law on women's participation in municipal elections. The law allows councils to approve and implement municipal plans and projects and oversee maintenance works and investment projects.

According to the law the minister of municipal and rural affairs would determine the size and make-up of the councils. They should not exceed 30 members with two-thirds elected and a third appointed by the minister.

The law gives men and women the right to stand as candidates vote and nominate others. It grants independent nongovernmental and nonprofit establishments and charities the right to observe election procedures.

Prince Mansour said the general committee would finalize the election programs and models. He advised all departments to provide the committee with necessary information.

He also set up an executive committee under the chairmanship of Jedaie bin Nahar Al-Qahtani director general of municipal council affairs. 'The executive committee will support the general committee in managing the elections' he said.

This will be the third municipal elections in the Kingdom. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah announced in 2011 that women would be allowed to vote and contest municipal elections in 2015.

'We refuse to marginalize women in all roles that comply with Shariah' the king told the Shoura Council's annual session. King Abdullah appointed 30 women to the consultative body in a major political and social reform.

The first municipal elections took place in 2005 in three phases. There are now 285 municipal councils across the Kingdom. Half of their members were elected while the second half were appointed by the minister.

Informed sources said women would have separate polling booths. Women municipal councilors will have separate offices. The ministry has given instructions to all local municipalities to make preparations for women's participation in the elections.