Women were allowed to vote and run for office in Saudi Arabia for the first time in municipal elections held on Saturday. Approximately 81 percent of the 130,000 women who were registered to vote cast ballots in the election, according to Saudi Arabia's General Election Commission. The elections were to select members for 284 municipal councils that provide local oversight of government projects and manage budgets for public facilities. At least 20 women won seats in Saturday's election, including four in Riyadh.
