The city of São Paulo will have free public transport buses this Sunday (2) of elections, when the second round of the election takes place. Transportation will be free on any line from 6 am to 8 pm. Passengers will board through the back door. In addition to the capital, four cities in Greater São Paulo will also guarantee free passes for voters.
Mayor Ricardo Nunes said he was “convinced” that transport did not influence the abstention rate in the first round, but that he decided to take this measure “as a signal from the city hall to strengthen democracy and facilitate the movement of voters”, he said. According to him, statistics showed that the largest abstentions were in the central regions of the city, for different reasons.
The initiative is based on decision of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) which released free public transport in the second round of elections. The decision allows mayors who adopt the measure not to be held responsible for administrative improbity or electoral crime.
Big Sao Paulo
In Diadema, municipal public transport will be free, as was the case in the first shift in the city. Municipal Decree 8,196, which was published in the Official Gazette before the first round, already provided that the benefit would be extended in the event of a second vote. In all, 19 lines and 75 buses will be in operation, provided by the Suzantur concessionaire.
The free pass is also guaranteed in Osasco. “In addition to free transport, the concessionaires will reinforce the fleet, at the request of the CMTO [Companhia Municipal de Transportes de Osasco] to facilitate citizens’ access to the polls”, informed the municipal administration.
In Rio Grande da Serra and in Ribeirão Pires, the zero fare in municipal public transport is already adopted for Sundays and holidays, which will be repeated on the election Sunday.
