Minister Luís Roberto Barroso, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), determined last night (29) that public transport be maintained at normal levels during this Sunday (2) in the first round of elections.
In the decision, Barroso says that “managers of public passenger transport systems are required to maintain their operation at normal levels, in the quantity and frequency necessary for the displacement of voters from their homes to the polling stations”.
“The possible reduction in the normal offer of the public transport service, deliberately or not, amounts to a serious violation of the political rights of citizens”, added the minister.
He partially complied with a request for an injunction (provisional decision) in an action for breach of fundamental precept (ADPF) by the Rede party.
The caption actually wanted the Supreme Court to determine free public transport on voting day throughout Brazil, as is already happening in some municipalities in isolation, but this point was not addressed by Barroso, the ADPF rapporteur. .
The minister considered the measure “a good idea of public policy”, but pointed out that the gratuity could only be instituted through a law passed in Congress and with a specific budget forecast. Barroso stated that “it is not possible to impose it universally, especially a few days before the election”.
To ask for universal gratuity, the Network argued that voting is mandatory in Brazil, but that many voters cannot afford the ticket to the polling place, which in many cases is more expensive than the fine for non-attendance, whose maximum value is R$ 3.51.
Minister Barroso determined, however, that municipalities that have already offered free access in previous elections maintain the measure. He said that “there is no reason for municipalities that, in the last elections, already implemented some public policy of gratuity on election day, to stop doing so”.
The minister mentioned the municipality of Porto Alegre, which, in terms of adjustment of conduct with the Public Ministry of Rio Grande do Sul, has committed to maintaining the gratuity granted in the 2020 municipal elections.
Barroso also praised the initiative of the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, who yesterday announced free public transport in the municipality from 6 am to 8 pm on Sunday, when the first round of the 2022 Elections takes place.
