Brazil’s electoral court bans campaign ads and candidate stickers on ride-hailing cars

During Brazil’s 2026 elections, drivers for Uber, 99 and other ride-hailing platforms will not be allowed to turn their cars into campaign spaces. The Superior Electoral Court has banned candidate stickers, posters and other political material on windows, doors or any other part of the vehicles.

The court’s reasoning rests on how the vehicles are used. Although the cars belong to the drivers, vehicles providing app-based passenger transport count as public-use property under electoral law. They therefore cannot be used for political promotion. The same restriction applies to taxis, which are also linked to publicly granted concessions.

The ban extends beyond physical advertising. Drivers cannot ask passengers for votes or use a trip to promote a candidate. The court considers public-use property to include places accessible to the general population, even when privately owned, such as cinemas, clubs, shops, shopping centers, religious temples, gyms, stadiums, clinics and hospitals.

Voters who see a ride-hailing car displaying campaign material can photograph it and should save a screenshot from the app identifying the registered vehicle. They can send the information to electoral authorities through Pardal, an app for reporting possible violations that has been available on phones and tablets since August 16.

The person responsible for illegal advertising may receive an order to remove the material within 48 hours. Failure to comply can result in a fine.