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6h ago

Bus Shortfalls Disrupt Voting in Multiple Brazilian Cities

Authorities have opened probes and issued court orders to restore service after evidence showed large numbers of buses stayed in garages, raising questions about whether the shortages were deliberate.

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Procon encontra 370 ônibus parados em garagens de Salvador
Polícia Civil reúne provas para investigação federal sobre ônibus em Salvador

Overview

  • Reports on Sunday, Oct. 25 showed widespread problems getting to polling places as municipal bus services fell far short of normal election‑day levels in several states.
  • In Salvador prosecutors and TRE-BA inspections found hundreds of buses parked, Procon‑BA counted 944 vehicles in garages, and the electoral court ordered service restored and issued a warrant for the city’s mobility secretary.
  • The Federal Police opened a formal inquiry in Sergipe and launched preliminary investigations in São Paulo, Bahia, Alagoas and Piauí to examine possible crimes of obstructing voting or hiding transport vehicles.
  • São Paulo monitors recorded roughly 71% of the municipal bus fleet in operation after a late judicial order to run 100%, and a judge rejected immediate arrest requests for city transport officials while investigations continue.
  • Officials and operators blamed short judicial notice, staffing and the removal of campaign stickers for delays, but unions denied ordering a holdback; prosecutors and electoral courts say concrete counts and drone footage will guide next legal and criminal steps.