979 female Saudi candidates will compete with their male colleagues for seats in municipal council elections in which a total of 7200 males and females will stand as candidates. The elections will begin at 8am and this is the third session of municipal elections.

The participation of Saudi Arabian women both as voters and as candidates for 3159 municipal council seats formed from 284 municipal councils is considered an important turning point for Saudi Arabia.

1.3 million voters will head to the polls amid government preparations and surveillance by civil agencies. The Saudi Human Rights Association announced that it will engage 200 observers to monitor the progress of the municipal elections.

The third session of municipal elections is launched under new terms to develop the electoral process by giving voters the opportunity to contribute to decision making by choosing competent and adequate candidates to manage both local affairs and municipal services.

The head of the executive committee for the election of municipal councils Jadee bin Nahar Al-Qahtani affirmed that all civil society institutions including the Human Rights Association can observe the electoral process and have the right to both attend the elections and record observations. He also welcomed the reporting of any violations noticed on the day of the elections to the electoral appeals committee which would decide on a suitable penalty according to rules and regulations.