It was ______ Saudi Arabia making its national election. [originaltext] Saud

Saudi Arabia is concluding the voting in its first ever-national elections. The third and final stage of municipal elections is being held in Mecca and Medina, the two holiest sites in Islam, as well as in Jiddab. Women are barred form taking part in the elections.
     Some 4,500 Saudi men are running for just 244 seats. Voter registration has been low overall in this third round of these municipal elections, just like in the first phase of the capital Riyadh. There is hope that in the future all municipal counsel members will be elected and that women will also be included in the process.