Folks,
The Brazilian Supreme Court just announced it is extending voting hours by two more hours, until 7 pm.
This comes amid widespread reports that bus service, which is free in Brazil on election day, was shut off in major Lula strongholds.
In São Paulo, Lula filed a complaint with the Electoral Court after learning that only 60% of the bus fleet was operating, despite a court order saying that 100% of all weekday buses should operate on Election Day.
In Salvador, at least 50 bus lines were not running on Sunday, leaving many voters stranded. In Piaui, the most pro-Lula state in the country, state deputy Fábio Novo (PT) announced that half of the buses weren't in service. Other cities reported similar issues in Lula strongholds.
Lula took legal action, and the Supreme Court extended voting hours by 2 hours. He's now called for the arrests of Mayors and other transit officials who reduced bus service on election day.
"After the elections, the next step is to request the arrest of these mayors for electoral crimes. Because it's unacceptable, in the 21st century, to have mayors trying to suppress and prohibit the people from exercising their free democratic right to vote," Lula said in a statement.
This is a developing story, and Payday will update as we learn more.
