Saudi women get the vote!
 

So says the Saudi King.

What a great step forward.

Yeah, but since they still can't drive, how will they get to the polls?

Who are they gonna vote for, the king or the king?

Nope, the mayor.

They can only vote in municipal elections.

Throughout history, giving women the vote has opened the doors to many other previously denied rights.

I personally think it's a good thing.

Its a great thing.

I was joking. (guess I'll have to give that up)

I wouldn't if I were you Classic. ;)

Bearing in mind that adult male suffrage is only a few years old, the speed of this move is pretty impressive.

It would be difficult, I think, to overestimate the importance of women having a formal political voice.

They can also run for office.

Oh wow, what a laugh. There have only been two elections since 1960 and these ones, for local council positions, were supposed to happen in 2009 and might now take place in 2015.

Women might be allowed to vote in these elections in theory but there are a whole range of practical obstacles, in particular the current requirement to have an identity card which most Saudi women do not carry.

And they can only work with their husband's permission.
As Rhi says, technically they can only leave the house with their husband's (or relevant male relative's) permission. Although denial of such permission is slowly changing.

But it is still a step. Universal female suffrage was only granted in Switzerland in 1972. And as that was the year of my birth I can assure you it was very recent.

A step is a step is a step.
Now we need to wean them off of capital punishment.



Wait.
What?

It's a hell of a lot more than the rights women had when I was there and married to a Saudi man (1979-1982).

Every little bit helps. Now, if only they could drive and choose the burqa (or not).