RIYADH — A total of 6,140 men and women candidates will contest the third municipal elections to be held on Dec. 12, according to a report issued by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and published Wednesday by Makkah daily. The report said the candidates consist of 5,275 men and 865 women who are participating for the first time as voters and candidates. According to the report, Asir Province has 47 men but no women candidates. With 1,061 contenders, Riyadh region has the largest number of candidates consisting of 899 men and 162 women. Makkah Province has a total of 949 candidates including 790 men and 159 women. Jeddah has 461 combined candidates while the holy city of Makkah has 219. The southern region of Jazan has 602 candidates consisting of 529 men and 73 women. Qassim has 584 candidates consisting of 517 men and 67 women while Madinah has 531 candidates consisting of 435 men and 96 women. The Eastern Province has a total of 640 candidates consisting of 349 men and 113 women. There are 349 candidates in Al-Baha including 308 men and 41 women and Tabuk has 310 candidates including 255 men and 55 women. The report said there are a total of 269 male and female candidates in Taif, 255 in Al-Jouf including 229 men and 26 women and 215 in Najran including 196 men and 19 women. According to the report, there are 179 candidates in the Northern Border region including 168 men and 11 women, 149 in Al-Ahsa and 102 in Hafr Al-Batin. The elections will be held to choose 284 municipal councils in all regions in the Kingdom. Two thirds of the councils' members will be elected while the rest will be appointed by the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs. More than five million Saudis are expected to vote in the elections. These include citizens who cast their votes in the previous two elections. The balloting will be done on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 8.am to 5 p.m and the results will be announced the same day.
