Saudi women vote for the first time

Women in Saudi Arabia

voted in elections for the first time on Saturday, Dec. 12. The Post's Brian Murphy is in
Riyadh covering the historic election. (Monica Akhtar and Jason Aldag/The Washington
Post)
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By Brian Murphy-December 12
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia The first Saudi women ever to cast ballots in the kingdom
hugged, took souvenir selfies and spoke cautiously of more openings during
groundbreaking elections Saturday that marked another step in social reforms but
failed to stir a major turnout at the polls.
Still, there was no denying the sense that the ultraconservative kingdom had passed
an important moment that fundamentally changes the definition of citizenship for half
the country and, in turn, further reorients Saudi policies away from more
uncompromising interpretations of Islam.
It also could embolden new initiatives to expand womens voices in a country that still
imposes a host of restrictions, including a ban on driving. Even election overseers
whose words are closely vetted by the ruling system spoke with unusual passion
about womens rights and the leaderships pride at the municipal council elections that
included more than 950 female candidates.
Its unlikely the elections will not significantly tone down wider criticism by Western
rights groups, which frequently call attention to issues such as beheadings and
crackdowns on dissent. What the election does give Saudi leaders, however, is a rare
opportunity to showcase Saudi women in a new light.
Im about to do it, 30-year-old government worker Jawaher al-Rawili told a friend

over the phone before entering the women-only polling station in Riyadh. Its so
exciting!

Women candidates
and female voters cast their ballots for the first time ever in Saudi Arabia's
local municipal elections on Saturday, Dec.12. (Reuters)
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The races at hand more than 3,000 municipal council seats across the kingdom
have no sway over decisions by Saudi rulers on social policies or any key areas. That
meant little to the women trickling in to vote: Some in full Islamic coverings that veiled
their entire face, others testing limits with head scarves pushed back to allow hair to
spill out and wearing bedazzled sneakers.
This is a day for all Saudi women if they voted or not, said Latifa al-Bazei, 53. We
are gaining a right that was kept from half the country for too long.
Behind her, groups of women took selfies and posted images on social media. One
flashed a V-for-victory sign.
[Someone has to pave the way.]
Despite the potential significance of the elections, only a relative fraction of Saudis
registered to cast ballots. Reasons included deep cynicism about the stunted powers
of the municipal councils, something akin to public works departments. Some also
blamed the Saudi leadership for failing to publicize the voting which appeared to
gain more attention abroad than inside the kingdom.
Nearly 1.5 million voters were on the lists to cast ballots including only about
130,000 women. Thats well short of the total number of eligible voters, which election
officials placed at up to 5 million. The real figure, however, is likely much higher in a
nation of more than 20 million citizens.
Nothing is perfect, a senior election official, Hamid al-Amer, told reporters. We are
trying our best.

[Few Saudis planned to vote]

Although Saudi civic authorities rallied to highlight the vote adding photos of Saudi
women in workplaces to a picture wall for a news conference some of the most
important patrons of the day were far in the background: Saudi Arabias religious
establishment.
Womens participation could not have happened without clearance from the religious
hierarchy, which gives Saudis Western-allied leaders the moral authority to rule over
Islams holiest sites. The imams apparent nod is a critical signal that they recognize
shifts in Saudi society.
In major urban centers such as Riyadh and Jiddah, opposition to womens
participation was mostly confined to some hard-line clerics and traditionalists. The tide
among men appeared decidedly pro-woman.
Do you just want to keep the door locked on her? said 65-year-old Fadh alShewaydah, who needed help to walk from the polling station and into his car in
Riyadh. Its a blessed hour.
Results are expected Sunday. There was no exit polling or other ways to credibly
forecast the outcome.
Two-thirds of the council seats will be decided in the election. The rest will be
appointed based on needed expertise such as degrees in engineering or traffic
management. This opens room for Saudi leaders to add more women despite the
election count.
We expect, we hope, there will be women winners, said Hamad Saad al-Omar, a
spokesman for the government ministry overseeing the elections. If they lose, its
possible they could be appointed depending on the needs.
Already, women have been appointed to the Shura Council, a high-level advisory
body, as part of gradual changes directed by the late King Abdullah, who died in
January and promised women the vote years before his death.
His successor, King Salman, may now be watched closely on whether he will craft his
own reforms to suit the times.
There are inherent tensions in the country that Salman must heed, said Khalid alDakhil, a professor of political sociology at King Saud University in Riyadh. Along with
social reforms, people also want some political reforms and a greater say in the
countrys affairs. This is especially true after the Arab Spring.
Salman, he added, has to figure out how to thread this needle.
Adding to the potential pressures is the relentless hum of social media, which was
used as the main point of outreach for many female candidates. Saudi Arabia with a
huge population under 30 years old -- is among the worlds most active social media
landscapes per capita. Twitter, Snapchat and other sites constantly buzz with gossip,

news tips and views about the direction of Saudi society.

There is a Saudi public opinion that is driven by social media, said Walter Russell
Mead, a foreign policy commentator with groups including the conservative Hudson
Institute in Washington.
At the King Salman Social Center, a government-run complex, women voters set their
own priorities: more job opportunities, expanded chances for high-ranking positions in
government and academia. Driving was often farther down the list.
Lets worry about the big things first before we get bogged down in disputes over
driving, said Najd al-Hababi, whose sister, Haifa, was running for a council seat. I
know this is a huge thing in the West, but we have other things, bigger things, on our
agenda.
Across Riyadh, a series of chauffeur-driven luxury cars pulled up at a polling station in
the neighborhood of al-Mada with women voters in the back seat: a Lexus, Bentley,
Mercedes with dark-tinted windows. They walked through a metal door leading to the
women-only section. Some pulled back their face coverings. They were smiling.
This isnt just a step for Saudi women, said voter Fatima al-Juraysi. Its a giant step.
Lets now hope it isnt the last.
Read more:
Historic first as women cast ballots in Saudi Arabia election
Few Saudis plan to vote in closely watched landmark election
Saudi women face off against men for first time in elections
Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Brian Murphy joined the Post after more than 20 years as a foreign correspondent and
bureau chief for the Associated Press in Europe and the Middle East. He has reported
from more than 50 countries and has written three books.
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