Career women in civic poll battle

DAMMAM: Businesswomen and social activists will be among 60 female candidates for the forthcoming municipal elections in Riyadh, Eastern Province and Jeddah, says activist Fawziya Al-Hani.
Al-Hani, who has been actively taking part in the poll process, said these women are joining the Partnership 2 Program organized by the Arab Institute for Development in cooperation with Baladi, a women’s cultural society totally supported by the Alwaleed bin Talal Foundation.
She said that women contestants are expected to increase in the near future as some women may submit their nomination papers at the last minute.
Al-Hani said that sessions will be held in Riyadh, Eastern Province and Jeddah in mid-August for one week, and transport, accommodation and other expenses will be provided for this.
The sessions will focus on the rules and regulations of the elections and getting candidates acquainted with dos and don’ts, as well as schedules and rights of women candidates, she said, adding that men and women working in the military cannot participate in the municipal elections.
Women should visit the municipality website and review the conditions, one of the most important of which is that participants must not be less than 25 years old and have possess at least a secondary school certificate.
The Eastern Province municipality has formed a local electoral committee and has 165 poll centers — 120 for men and 45 for women. Eastern Province Mayor Fahd Al-Jubair said the decision of the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for allowing women to participate as voters and candidates is a wise one, especially after the participation of women in the Shoura Council.