Women in Saudi Arabia are getting a right that women in the United States have had since 1920.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on Sunday granted women the right to vote and run in municipal elections.
Although there is an election next week, women will not participate in it. The first election that women can participate in will be in 2015.
Abdullah also announced women will now be allowed to be appointed to the Shura Council, the advisory body that the king selects. Currently, the council consists only of males.
The Association of Saudi Arabian Students at UF welcomed the reform.
"I'm always glad to hear any reform steps that the kingdom [does], and that includes giving women the right to vote," said Ahmed AlBassam, the organization's vice president.
Ammar Naji, the treasurer of the organization, said the decision reflects women's previous achievements in society.
"The initiative recognizes women's political role and puts them in the heart of society where their rightful place is as a citizen, wife, mother, daughter and partner in building the society," he said.
Although the association doesn't have anything planned for this particular reform, they will be celebrating Saudi Arabia National Day on Friday in the Rion Ballroom B Half from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to Naji.
