São Paulo launches Libras service for deaf voters

A new service has been launched in the state of São Paulo to assist deaf voters through Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) interpreters. The initiative is a partnership between the Regional Electoral Court of São Paulo (TRE-SP) and the State Secretariat for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SEDPcD), operating under the ‘São Paulo São Libras’ program.

Deaf voters can access the service via video calls to resolve questions regarding electoral documentation, polling locations, voter registration regularization, and voting justifications. Before election day, the service can be accessed through the PoupatempoSP.GOV.BR application. On election day, polling stations will feature QR codes on posters that direct voters to an immediate video call with an on-duty interpreter.

This collaboration follows a successful implementation during the 2024 municipal elections. The ‘São Paulo São Libras’ program, established in 2023, has already recorded over 25,000 services and saw a 21.4% increase in usage over the last year.