Saudis vote women into municipal councils for first time ever

The new announcement means women will get the vote in four years’ time, but they still face huge obstacles in daily life. Photograph: Hassan Ammar/AFP/Getty Images

For the first time in the monarchy’s history, women have been elected to municipal councils in Saudi Arabia.

On Sunday, a total of 19 women have been elected so far from all over the country, one day after the kingdom’s election, which allowed women to vote and run as candidates.

According to the Associated Press, out of the country’s 130,000 registered female voters, 106,000 cast ballots, in other words around 82 percent of the eligible female voters took part in the elections.

The election was held for only the two thirds of the municipal councils’ positions, which do not have national or lawmaking powers.

Riyadh, the Saudi capital, had the most female electees with four candidates wining seats.