Free transportation can be arranged for Brazilian voters
Brazilian voters may have access to free public transportation for the Oct. 30 presidential runoff pitting incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro against the former head of state Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva, Federal Supreme Court (STF) Justice Luís Roberto Barroso ruled Tuesday.
As per the magistrate's decision, municipalities and bus companies will be able to offer free public transportation, but those mayors granting this benefit cannot be held accountable for administrative misconduct or electoral crimes.
The court decision came after a lawsuit filed by Rede Sustentabilidade. At the party's request, in the first round, the magistrate also determined that public transportation should be maintained at normal levels and that the municipalities that already offered free transportation in previous elections should maintain the measure.
Rede argued that voting is mandatory in Brazil, but that many voters cannot afford the fare to the polling place, which in many cases is more expensive than the fine for not showing up. The measure also seeks to prevent high voter abstention on voting day.
Meanwhile, Superior Electoral Court (TSE) Chief Justice Alexandre De Moraes underlined Tuesday that electoral harassment in the workplace is a crime to be punished, because voters should have freedom to choose their candidates. Read More...
