Apathy Marks 1st Saudi Voter Registration

[Khephra]

Apathy Marks 1st Saudi Voter Registration




By DONNA ABU-NASR
Associated Press Writer

December 20, 2004, 1:46 PM EST

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Despite a campaign urging residents to register before Thursday's deadline, Saudi men -- women are barred from voting -- have shown little enthusiasm for the first nationwide elections in a kingdom long regarded as autocratic, secretive and resistant to reform.

During 30 minutes at a Riyadh voter registration center, only two people -- an old man and a prince -- walked in to sign up. At another center, a mere eight people registered in 45 minutes. By Sunday, only about 100,000 of 600,000 eligible voters in the Riyadh area had registered since the centers opened Nov. 23. The three-stage municipal council elections begin in the capital Feb. 10.

Saudis have not been swayed by pictures of senior princes and football stars signing up to vote. Nor have they been driven to emulate Iraqis and Palestinians who are due to cast ballots next month.

"It didn't occur to me" to register, said Mohammed al-Subai, 29, who works in public relations.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-saudi-elections,0,2079316.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[uppityperson]

1. How can we MAKE them be democratic?

I mean, if they don't at least cast the shadow of attempting democracy, how can we not invade?

[TO Kid]

3. Well, they are local elections

Hell, in Toronto if the turnout ever exceeds 30% it's a miracle. Mind you, they probably realize that these local councils won't have any power anyway.

[rainbow4321]

7. "Takes time for people to appreciate how elections change things"

Ok, well, WE'VE been at this for a couple hundred years and we still have people who won't go out to vote cuz it is RAINING outside..so the Saudi people have a looonnnngggg wait for appreciation to kick in.

[fryguy]

2. the model of democracy!

"women are barred from voting" - I'm so glad the US supports the regime as strenuously as it does, truly demostrates our universal interest in spreading democracy....

[gratuitous]

4. Hmmm, repressive, brutal, royalist regime that brooks NO dissent

I can't imagine why Saudi men aren't just breaking down the doors to register! I mean, other than that whole "marked for death" thing should someone do something considered anti-government by an overrich, insecure, suspicious, paranoid plutocracy.

[Jack_DeLeon]

5. So in other words...

thier democracy is almost exactly like ours.

[rainbow4321]

6. This is the best line.....

"Real elections have an end result - decision-making gets into the people's hands"


Yeah, the hands of the Diebold "techs"....