Saudis call for municipal vote boycott http://www.rebelnews.org/politics/middle-east/813433-saudis-call-for-municipal-vote-boycott

Saudi intellectuals and activists in capital Riyadh have called for a boycott of their country's municipal elections, where women have been barred from voting. “We announce a boycott of the elections and urge all those who have the right to participate as candidates or voters to boycott them,” said the 67 signatories, including writers and journalists, AFP reported on Sunday. Calling for a total boycott, the signatories said that the municipal councils “lack the authority to effectively carry out their role” and complain that half of the 178 members, rather than being elected, are directly appointed by government authorities. 

The municipal council elections were scheduled for September 22. Saudi Arabia held phased elections for half the seats on municipal councils in 2005 for the first time in over 40 years. The country's nine million women are barred from taking part in the elections, whether as a candidate or a voter.

Registration centers, which opened in Saudi cities on April 23 to register names of candidates, have declined to enroll women's names“Women are for the second time banned from participating, whether as voters or candidates ... meaning that half of society is excluded from participating," the intellectuals said. Many citizens complain that as the councils do not have any authority or influence in decision making, there is no point in voting at all.