ABHA: Saudi women are gearing up to venture into the world of local politics by participating in the third cycle of municipal elections in August as candidates and voters.

Saudi women hope that their presence in the elections will be stronger than the modest experience they had in the elections of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Saudi women praised this step and said they are eager to see what positive results women’s participation will have on the decisions of municipal councils.

Dr. Aisha Nato, a member of the High Council of Vocational and Technical Training, said that opening the door for women to take part in elections reflects the wise vision of the state and the Kingdom’s decision to advance these councils to have more success.

“As they comprise half of the society, women will definitely have a positive input in the councils and will also gain more experience in this field,” she pointed out.

Saud Al-Twaim, media spokesperson for the municipal elections in Jeddah, said: “The new regulations and amendments will definitely attract more voters, especially among the young from both sides.”

He said that the new amendments include increasing the number of candidates to two-thirds. “Other major changes include giving council members greater authority which will give these elections high momentum and wider participation,” he added.

He addressed the people of Jeddah saying that the municipality expects the people to respond to their social responsibilities and national duties and cast their votes. Women will be partners in organizing the elections, preparing polling locations, and developing the committees and procedures for women voters.

Al-Twaim said that registration centers for women wishing to be candidates take place in independent women’s centers where certified electoral committees work.

Ghada Abbas Ghazawi, head of the advertisement committee for the last elections of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that women’s participation in elections as voters and candidates will have a positive influence on the council’s work, especially since this move was highly anticipated.