RIYADH: Two polling stations in Riyadh witnessed a poor turnout of female voters when they opened for voting on Saturday morning.

Some voters at the polling booths attributed the low turnout to laxity coupled with the cold wave lashing the capital and other cities.

A voter, Awatef Marzouk Al-Hazimi, said she was very happy about exercising her franchise. She, however, said that although she voted for a male candidate, she wished a female won the election.

“I voted for a man because he convinced me with his program. I cried when I voted because now I feel that a dream has become reality and women have started to have a voice,” she said

Mody Ibrahim Al-Majed, another voter, said she was feeling tired but that did not stop her from participating in the elections. “It is a national duty and all women have to participate in it.”

Noura and Maha Al-Dosary said that they were disappointed with the campaigns of the candidates as they did not know much about elections and thought that the candidates should have exerted more efforts.

Haifa Al-Hababi, a candidate, said that it is all right even if she does not win the election. However, she said, she has made history by participating in the elections, and this was possible because of the support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the government.