Volunteer drivers and social media solidarity help voters despite Salvador bus shutdown
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When much of Salvador's bus fleet was kept off the roads on election day, volunteers and social media networks stepped in to carry working people to the polls, helping boost turnout as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the runoff decisively.
When many buses in Salvador, Brazil's capital of Bahia state, were found idle on election day, volunteers stepped in to transport voters to polling stations, turning a transit shutdown into a display of collective resistance and popular organization. History teacher Martins Mafra, who had taken his car keys to the streets, offered rides to supporters of all political persuasions.
The shutdown, which affected roughly 30% of the city's fleet, was linked to the removal of campaign stickers that had been placed on buses in violation of electoral rules, according to Mayor Bruno Reis. The Bahia electoral court later ordered the arrest of transportation chief Pablo Souza, though the order was revoked after voting ended.
Local activists, including Gabriel Mercury, organized drivers through social-media appeals, estimating that about 600 voters were moved to the polls. Uber drivers also provided free rides, with one driver reporting he gave 36 rides on the day.
The mobilization occurred as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sought to increase turnout after trailing in the first round, and grassroots efforts helped counter the disruption. The runoff saw a significant drop in abstention in Bahia, with nearly 400,000 additional voters casting ballots, and Lula winning 73% of votes in Salvador.
"I'm a father, and I work in education, so this was an opportunity to teach and show that we can make a difference," said Mafra.
"Politics isn't just institutional politics. We make politics through our actions," said Mercury.
Voters such as 18-year-old Nicole Soares waited for a bus but ultimately voted, while others, like street vendor Grecia de Jesus Nunes, were unable to reach a polling station due to the limited service.