JEDDAH: At the upcoming elections the national identity card will be the only approved document used for identifying voters of both genders and allowing voters to exercise their electoral right, provided all statutory requirements are met.

In a press statement, the municipal elections administration said women’s participation in the municipal elections demonstrates unlimited support for Saudi women from the Kingdom’s leadership, as well as ongoing efforts to expand their participation in the Kingdom’s development.

The new municipal system includes necessary provisions, arrangements, procedures and controls for the equal participation of women as voters and candidates in accordance with Shariah laws, read the statement.

These include separate polling stations for women operated by female electoral commission officials in accordance with international electoral norms and standards.

Out of 511 new electoral and polling centers set up for the elections throughout the Kingdom, 424 have been set up for women, amounting to 83 percent of the total number of centers.

These centers account for 34 percent of the total number of accredited centers throughout the Kingdom, which amount to 1,263 polling centers spread throughout 284 municipalities.

Reports from local committees confirm that all equipment in most women’s election centers have been set up, and these centers are prepared to receive female voters and candidates during the first stage of the elections scheduled to start on the 7th of Dhul Qadah (Aug. 22).

According to Article 6 of the municipal election regulations, at least one electoral center for women should be set up in each electoral circuit, to be operated by women, while Article 7 stipulates that each electoral circuit should have one center to register male candidates and one center to register female candidates.

Meanwhile, the secretary of Najran and head of the local municipal election committee, Faris Al-Shafaq, adopted the training plan for heads and members of electoral committees for local election centers. In a press statement on Thursday, the Najran municipality said it carried out the first training workshops for female trainers at Prince Meshaal Center, while another eight workshops will be held in Najran, Habouna and Sharoura for men and women next week.