Thousands Vote In Saudi Election

Abdul Rahman al-Hussein voted for the candidate pledging to build playgrounds. Another man picked the candidate pushing affordable housing. Local concerns predominated as Saudi men cast city council ballots Thursday in the first regular election in their country's history.

Voters gingerly went through the seven-page ballot card, smiling broadly as they cast their vote and made plans to frame their green voter registration cards. Many said the novel experience was a good first step toward democratic reform in this absolute monarchy — but should be followed by more.

"This is the beginning of a new era. We now know what elections are, and what it means to make your voice heard through proper channels," said Abdul Nasser al-Zahrani, 46, an archaeology professor. "It is the beginning of democracy."

Voting began slowly at 8 a.m., the beginning of the weekend for most people, but the pace picked up later in the day, especially in lower-income areas. Women were kept away, banned from running in the elections or voting.

Commenting on the elections, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters in Luxembourg: "It is a small step, but of course it's a step that we would hope at one point would include women."

But the only female holding a ballot at the Riyadh polling place visited by CBS News Correspondent Sheila MacVicar was nine-year-old Noura, whose father brought her along to help cast his vote.

"I think it should be for everybody," Noura's father, Turki al Athel,

Officials opened the tall, gray ballot boxes to make sure they were empty before sealing them. The smell of incense wafted through some polling stations as voters ticked off the names of their candidates.

Some had to be shepherded through the various steps. Others complained to officials about voters chatting on cell phones in violation of voting rules. One enthusiastic voter made the V-for-victory sign as he picked up his ballot card.

More than 1,800 candidates were contesting 127 seats in the capital and surrounding villages, with 640 of them running for seven seats in Riyadh. Only 149,000 of 600,000 eligible voters had registered to vote. Two more phases will cover the rest of the country in March and April.

Election officials said late Thursday that 82 percent of registered voters outside the capital had voted. They said the turnout among the 80,000 voters in Riyadh itself was not available.

An hour before midnight, the officials said there still was no word on when partial results would be announced, but that final results might not be released until Friday or Saturday.

Only half of almost 1,200 councilmen nationwide will be elected. The rest will be appointed. While many see Thursday's vote as a modest step, others see it is a remarkable development in a country where any talk of participation in decision-making used to be taboo.

Asked how he felt about the election, especially since it gave some power to citizens his family has ruled for decades, Prince Mohammed bin Saud said: "We believe in these reforms and we're going in the right direction."

The kingdom came under intense international pressure to reform after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, carried out by 19 Arabs, 15 of them Saudi. Some progressive Saudis have blamed the lack of democracy in this absolute monarchy for the prevalence of a puritanical Islamic ideology that fosters an environment in which militants can easily find justification for their actions.

Prince Mansour bin Miteb, head of the election commission, said voter turnout was "very reasonable" shortly before polls closed at 5 p.m. (1400 GMT). With so many candidates running, it was not clear who would have the advantage: Wealthy businessmen who poured millions into campaigns, or Islamist candidates who enjoy credibility and a reputation for honesty among many citizens.

Sultan al-Ghunaimi, a 27-year-old cleric, said he voted for seven Islamist candidates because in their campaign they promised "to serve Muslims with honesty."

Merchant Saad Tlass, 47, said he did not choose Islamists but voted for candidates who had promised to work on legislation that would allow citizens to add extra floors to their houses.

"That would bring rents down and make it affordable for men to get married," he said.

Others said they didn't care about the candidates' affiliations as long as they fulfilled promises to improve street lighting, get rid of the stench of sewage in some areas and decrease bureaucracy.

Some voters, like Mansour al-Omar, a 40-year-old businessman, brought their sons with them. Al-Omar said he wanted to teach 6-year-old son Ibrahim about democracy.

Prince Turki, the Saudi ambassador to Britain, predicted late last month that women would be allowed to vote in future elections. Voters were divided over the issue of whether that should happen.

Al-Ghunaimi said he would support women voting on issues that concern them, such as female shopping malls and charities.

"Sewage and lighting are none of their business," he said.

Abdullah al-Muhaidib, 43, an auditor, said he would not have allowed his wife to vote even if the government had permitted it. "She is a queen at home, but I am in charge of what takes place outside the house," he said.

However, many, like Abdul Aziz al-Ghanam, 45, a land surveyor, said they wished women had been given the opportunity to participate.

"I would not have had a problem with my wife voting," he said.

The sight of a female reporter in a polling station confused Suleiman al-Ondus, 70. "Have you changed your mind? Are you allowing women to vote?" he asked an official. "I want to bring my wife."

When told the woman was a journalist, al-Ondus said: "I feel a lot of pain because women cannot participate in the vote."