In the Brazilian state of Sergipe, intercity bus fares will be waived only on Sunday, October 25, 2026, the day of the election runoff, for voters who need to travel between municipalities to vote and return home. Passengers must provide proof of their polling location and identity. Additional conditions apply to the return journey under State Decree No. 1,571/2026. The free-fare period does not cover every day on which extra buses will be running.
According to the Sergipe state government, the State Highway Infrastructure Department (DER/SE) will deploy 42 reserve buses from 2 p.m. on Friday, October 23, until 2 p.m. on Monday, October 26. More buses on the road do not mean free travel throughout that entire period.
Free fares versus extra buses: what are the dates?
| Period | What is planned |
|---|---|
| October 23 from 2 p.m. through October 24 | Additional buses begin operating. The runoff election's free-fare benefit is not yet in effect. |
| Sunday, October 25, all day | Free intercity travel for eligible election-related journeys, subject to document requirements, with additional buses in service. |
| Monday, October 26, until 2 p.m. | Extra-bus operations continue until 2 p.m. The election-related fare waiver has already ended. |
The state decree covers regular intermunicipal road bus services. The announcement of 42 extra vehicles does not provide a complete city-by-city list of routes, stops or timetables. The expanded fleet therefore does not guarantee a departure to every destination at any chosen time.
Which documents are needed for the outbound and return trips?
Traveling to the municipality where you vote
State Decree No. 1,571/2026 allows voters to establish their polling location using a paper voter registration card, the e-Título app, or another reliable physical or electronic document showing where they vote. They must also present a document establishing their identity. These are the conditions for the free outbound bus trip, not the complete identification rules inside the polling station.
Returning after casting your ballot
The decree requires documents establishing identity and polling location, plus proof of voting and use of the free-fare benefit on the outbound leg. DER/SE's public guidance emphasizes the proof-of-voting document for the journey back. Because the decree also refers to having used free travel on the outbound journey, voters traveling to their polling municipality before Sunday should not assume their return trip will automatically be free.
Voting at the polling station has separate requirements. Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE) requires an official photo ID or an e-Título account displaying the voter's photograph. If the app does not show a photograph, an official photo ID is necessary. A voter registration card alone does not replace voter identification at the polling station.
Intercity buses and local city buses are different services
The fare waiver announced by the Sergipe government and administered by DER/SE applies to buses carrying passengers between municipalities. It should not be confused with urban bus arrangements, which are organized separately.
According to Sergipe's Regional Electoral Court (TRE-SE), the concession-operated public transport network serving Aracaju, Barra dos Coqueiros, Nossa Senhora do Socorro and São Cristóvão has its own free-fare provision established by the Aracaju city government under Municipal Decree No. 8,860 of September 24, 2026. In other municipalities, the electoral authorities have reported the use of buses requisitioned by local electoral districts, with boarding points, times and routes published locally.
These are distinct arrangements: DER/SE's regular intercity network, the public transport system serving the Aracaju area, and buses arranged by electoral districts elsewhere in the state. The fare rules and routes of one service should not automatically be assumed to apply to the others.
Where can passengers check services and plan their journey?
For ordinary ticketed journeys, the government identifies the Luiz Garcia Terminal (Old Bus Station) in central Aracaju and the José Rollemberg Leite Terminal (New Bus Station) on Avenida Tancredo Neves. DER/SE also mentions advance ticket purchases at minhapassage.com.br for departures from Aracaju, at least one hour before the desired departure. That is information about ticket purchases; it does not establish a special reservation process for free journeys on Sunday.
DER/SE advises planning ahead because additional vehicles do not eliminate capacity limits or the risk of queues. Check the timetable for your bus route, bring the required documents and confirm your polling location via e-Título or the TSE's official services before leaving. Do not rely on the election-related fare waiver for journeys on October 23, 24 or 26.
