Women in Saudi Arabia given the right to vote and run in elections

Finally! King Abdullah says the changes will go into effect on Thursday. For a nation that treats women like dirt, this is great leap forward for them.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15052030

But next question is

How do they verify identity?

But next question is

How do they verify identity?

This is in Pakistan they wear that. (well, they do have something similar but its black) and not all of them wear it.

Wow, I never thought they'd do this in my lifetime. Kudos to the liberal king. They still can't drive though, right?

Wow, I never thought they'd do this in my lifetime. Kudos to the liberal king. They still can't drive though, right?

There have been some "protests" by women, but I don't think it worked out

Wow, this is a big step, hopefully they will be treated equally in at least 10 years

I would have thought driving would come before voting. Seems logical...
I feel like this is a step in the right direction, but men will probably force their wives/sisters/daughters to vote the way they're voting, so it seems somewhat like a token gesture to make the international community respect them.

men will probably force their wives/sisters/daughters to vote the way they're voting, so it seems somewhat like a token gesture to make the international community respect them.

This seems like what will logically happen. Just because you change a rule doesn't mean you can change the people. The only reason there hasn't been a regicide is exactly BECAUSE of that; the men get to vote multiple times now legally. And in this world, there is nothing people like to do better than abuse any system present as much as possible.

As long as everybody has to vote in private, and it is illegal for anybody else to see you vote (so men can't tag along with women), and reminders are always given that everybody's vote should be their own opinion, then I think there's hope for the system.

Despite the general culture, there are still some very liberal females there. I have a friend who is one, and I know for sure that she would vote the way she wanted to vote regardless of what males in her life said. If that could potentially put her in danger, she'd probably lie to them about what her vote was. Additionally, as soon as she came to New Zealand (she's a student here for a few years), she got a driver's licence. She follows her religion; doesn't eat pork, doesn't drink, keeps fasts, goes to the mosque, and wears a veil. But she does not believe at all that males are superior to females at all. So she basically makes her own decisions about what to believe and follow. She's very interested in other peoples religions, and talks a lot about how people need to not blindly follow what they are told, and instead make their own decision about what to follow and what to not. I'm sure there's others like her out there too. (Some would say that wearing a veil is contradicting, BUT she has her reasons for wearing it and has thought carefully about that aspect as well).

YOU CAN VOTE!!

(as long as you walk there trololol)

That's a little bit of irony for you. Oh well one step forward for their country.