STORY-TRÅD·politik

2026 election: About 158.7M voters to cast ballots across Brazil

Brazilians will go to the polls today (Oct. 4) to elect a president, governors, senators, and federal, state and district representatives. Approximately 158.7 million voters are eligible to vote, according to the Electoral Court. Voters’ choices will determine who holds the offices responsible for decisions that directly affect people’s lives, including in areas such as health, education, public safety, transportation, infrastructure, and the economy. Notícias relacionadas:Nearly 1M Brazilians abroad eligible to vote in 2026 elections.Brazil’s 2026 elections see record number of indigenous candidates.Brazilian army simulates cyber defense measures ahead of elections.Voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Brasília time); cell phones remain prohibited in the voting booth. If a runoff is required for the presidential and gubernatorial races, it will be held on October 25. Candidates to be elected This year, voters will cast six votes: for president (and vice president), governor (and vice governor), two senators, a federal representative, and a state representative - or a district representative in the Federal District. The elections will determine the composition of the federal and state executive branches and renew part of the legislative branch starting January 1, 2027. Representatives serve four-year terms, while senators serve eight-year terms. Voter profile The 2026 elections will feature the largest electorate in Brazilian history. Of the total number of eligible voters, 141,321,493 have already registered their biometric data, equivalent to 89.01 percent of the electorate, according to the Electoral Court. According to the Superior Electoral Court, 605,800 voters are 16 years old and just over 1 million are 17. Voting is optional for both age groups. Number of candidates This election is also marked by a large number of candidates. The Electoral Court has registered approximately 21,000 candidates. More than half (11,700) are running for seats in state legislative assemblies. A total of 7,803 candidates are running for seats in the House of Representatives. Achievement of democracy The right to vote has not always been available to all Brazilians. Throughout the country’s history, different groups have been excluded from the electoral process. Women, illiterate people, indigenous peoples, and the poor were, at various times, barred from participating in elections. More recently, during the military dictatorship (1964–1985), a period marked by institutional disruption, voting and political rights were restricted, candidacies were revoked, and certain offices came to be filled through indirect elections. Illiterate citizens regained the right to vote in 1985. Their right to vote was enshrined in the 1988 Federal Constitution. In this context, the Electoral Court is responsible for organizing the electoral process in a way that guarantees the exercise of the right to vote as a pillar of Brazilian democracy. In institutional material from its “Voto Limpo” (Clean Vote) series, the Superior Electoral Court describes the vote as “the highest expression of citizenship” and emphasizes that it gives citizens the freedom to choose who will govern the country.