Story highlights 900 women are campaigning for office in Saudi Arabia

December 12 municipal election will be first opportunity for women to vote in kingdom

At least two women's rights activists say they have been disqualified from running

(CNN) More than 900 women are campaigning for public office in Saudi Arabia -- a first in the kingdom's history.

The December 12 municipal election will be the first opportunity for Saudi women to vote or run for office since a 2011 order by the now deceased King Abdullah that granted women some opportunities for political participation in the ultra-conservative Sunni kingdom.

Critics have described the change as anywhere from modest to inconsequential. Women will only participate in elections at the municipal level.

At least two women's rights activists announced on Twitter that they had been disqualified as candidates.

Loujain Hathloul, who was arrested last year for defying a ban on women drivers, and Nasema al-Sada, said their names had been left off the final candidates list, and that they plan to appeal.

Read More