Brazil Mandates Free Public Transport for Voters in 2026 Election Runoff

On October 25, over 158.7 million voters in Brazil will take part in the second round of presidential and gubernatorial elections, with several states including Acre, Amazonas, Espírito Santo, Rondônia, Tocantins, and the Federal District participating. To facilitate voter participation, municipal and state governments are legally required to provide free public transportation throughout election day. This obligation stems from a Supreme Federal Court (STF) ruling in October 2023 and is explained in detail by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) Resolution No. 23.751.

The Defensoria Pública da União (DPU) has actively petitioned the STF to ensure this mandate is enforced rigorously during the runoff, specifically requesting a nationwide injunction requiring free municipal and intermunicipal transit. Their analysis found that during the first round of the elections, 78 municipalities either failed to offer free transport or operated it at reduced frequency, often citing confusion over Electoral Justice directives despite the STF's clear ruling. The DPU highlights that lack of accessible transport disproportionately hinders marginalized groups, including indigenous peoples and rural residents, threatening equal political participation.

Public transport during the election must operate on regular weekday schedules without any service reductions, and it must be free of electoral or party propaganda. Authorities are also forbidden from providing transportation directly, and any attempts to reduce service levels could be deemed electoral crimes. Citizens can report violations via the Pardal app.

Several cities have already implemented specific plans to meet these requirements. Curitiba will offer free transport across 206 municipalities; São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Florianópolis, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Fortaleza, João Pessoa, Belém, and Manaus will also provide free transport for voters with designated operating hours to maintain consistent service.

STF Minister Cármen Lúcia requested the TSE clarify rules on free interstate transport to ensure voters traveling between states can access polling stations without barriers. This legal and logistical framework aims to remove transportation as an impediment to voting, reinforcing the democratic right for all Brazilians to participate in the 2026 elections.