From address-less to electorally included: Reducing administrative burdens in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

As global cities evolve into “smart”, connected, and digital hubs, many regions continue to struggle with fundamental challenges, including ensuring citizens' access to basic rights. Administrative burdens, such as proof of address requirements, often constrain access to rights, and access to social and political participation. In Brazil, proof of residence is required for accessing various services, including voter registration, posing a significant barrier for residents of informal settlements. To address this, innovative approaches using geolocation and algorithmic codes have been developed to efficiently locate vulnerable residents, effectively ‘addressing the unaddressed’. This study examines the impact of these interventions on the voting intentions of residents in Maré, the second-largest favela in Rio de Janeiro. For this, we conducted a survey-based field experiment among hard-to-reach slum residents without formal addresses. Our findings indicate that providing information about online voter registration and an algorithmic proof of residence reduces administrative barriers. This, in turn, increases intentions to register to vote and, to a lesser extent, voting intentions. Beyond electoral participation, this study underscores the critical importance of cost-effective and scalable solutions to address-lessness, facilitating access to rights for vulnerable residents in informal settlements. • The absence of an official address perpetuates the vulnerability of citizens in global cities who are already marginalized. • Lacking an address hinders their ability to register to vote and participate in social and political life. • Digital address options and online information can reduce administrative barriers and enhance voting intention. • Flexibility in allocating voters without fixed addresses supports electoral participation among vulnerable groups.