Electoral Court adapts logistics to guarantee voting in the Bailique Archipelago
Quick Look
In the Bailique Archipelago, where rivers replace roads, the Electoral Court used adapted vessels and support from firefighters to guarantee the vote of voters with reduced mobility, such as Leonice Rocha Rodrigues, aged 88, and José Ribamar Louredo, aged 57, in the national project 'Your Vote Matters'.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Bailique Archipelago, located in the state of Amapá, has a unique geography where rivers act as roads, requiring logistical adaptations from the Electoral Court to guarantee access to voting.
In the Bailique Archipelago, where rivers act as roads, the Electoral Court had to adapt logistics to guarantee the right to vote. Retired Leonice Rocha Rodrigues, 88 years old, was one of the voters served by the national project "Your Vote Matters" this Sunday (4).
With reduced mobility, Leonice received support from the Electoral Court to get to the polling place. An adapted boat was used to take her to the voting station.
Teams from the Regional Electoral Court (TRE) and the Fire Department went to the elderly woman's house. Through the community's wooden walkways, they took the wheelchair to the boat that was waiting for it.
Leonice was led along the community walkways — Photo: Luke Araújo/TRE-AP
Sitting at the front of the boat, Leonice went to the school where she votes. Even though voting was optional for her age group, she insisted on participating in the election once again.
Your Vote Matters Project, in Bailique — Photo: Luke Araújo/TRE-AP
Around 5 thousand voters are eligible to vote in Bailique. They are distributed in sections installed in nine locations across the archipelago.
The election involves employees of the Electoral Court, firefighters and military police. The operation has a structure adapted to the needs of riverside communities.
Another voter who benefited from the initiative was José Ribamar Louredo, 57 years old. For him, voting is one of the main tools for citizen participation.
"It is important to participate in the elections here in Bailique, as well as throughout Brazil, because it is a moment that we have to exercise our citizenship. We have the vote to hire or fire our administrators," said Ribamar.
READ MORE:
Judge Elaine Cantuária, head of the 14th Electoral Zone, explained that the geographical characteristics of Bailique require specific solutions to ensure that people with disabilities or reduced mobility are able to vote.
"When we understand that, in the Amazon, roads are rivers, we need to adapt our actions to ensure that this person is able to vote. Because their vote has the same value as that of any other citizen", stated the judge.
Accessibility and the right to vote
The operation uses ratchets, small boats and wheelchairs to help move voters to the polling places.
This is the first time that TRE-AP participates in the national program "Your Vote Matters", created to increase accessibility and guarantee the right to vote for people with reduced mobility.
TRE-AP teams in Bailique — Photo: Luke Araújo/TRE-AP
Open Questions
- How many voters with reduced mobility were served in total?
- Will the 'Your Vote Matters' project be expanded to other riverside regions?
- What are the operational costs of logistical adaptation in elections?
