STORY-TRÅD·politik

Nearly 1M Brazilians abroad eligible to vote in 2026 elections

Nearly 1 million Brazilians registered to vote abroad are eligible to vote in the 2026 elections. The Superior Electoral Court says 918,876 voters are registered in 134 countries, representing just over 0.5 percent of Brazil’s approximately 158.7 million eligible voters. Brazilians living abroad vote only for president and vice president. Notícias relacionadas:Brazilian army simulates cyber defense measures ahead of elections.Brazil’s 2026 elections see record number of indigenous candidates.OAS to send international mission to monitor elections in Brazil.The number of Brazilians eligible to vote abroad has grown steadily. From 2010 to 2026, the number increased by 358 percent. In 2010, there were about 210,000 registered voters abroad, rising to 354,000 in 2014. The number reached 500,000 in 2018 and nearly 700,000 in 2022. Journalist Victoria Duarte, 30, is among these voters. A master’s student at the University of Niagara Falls, she has lived in Ontario, Canada, since August 2025. This will be her first time participating in a Brazilian election from abroad. “I wanted to vote, even though I live abroad, because I know how important these elections are for my country’s future. I went through the entire process required to do so,” she told Agência Brasil. Polling stations To vote, Duarte and other Brazilian friends will have to travel to Toronto, where the nearest polling station is located. According to the Brazilian Electoral Court, polling stations will be set up in 186 cities abroad. They will operate primarily at Brazilian consulates and embassies, but may also be located in schools, hotels, and other venues. Living overseas has strengthened Duarte’s bond with Brazil. “I’ve become more patriotic and proud of my country. Anyone who lives abroad knows this because they have something to compare it with,” she said. The countries with the largest Brazilian voter populations are the United States (265,400), Portugal (134,700), Japan (88,300), Canada (46,400), and Germany (41,500). Profile According to the Electoral Court, women account for 57 percent of registered voters outside Brazil, while men account for 43 percent. In terms of marital status, single voters make up the largest share, at 52 percent of the total. Married voters account for 42 percent, divorced voters for 6 percent, and widowed voters for 1 percent. (Figures do not total 100 percent due to rounding.) The voter registry also lists 6,614 people with disabilities, representing 0.72 percent of the electorate. With regard to educational attainment, 38 percent of voters residing abroad have completed higher education, the highest share among the recorded education levels. Those who have completed high school account for 29 percent, while those with some higher education but no degree account for 13 percent. Voters who have not completed high school account for 10 percent, followed by those who have completed elementary school (5%), those who have not completed elementary school (3%), and those who can only read and write (1%). As for age groups, voters aged 40 to 44 make up the largest group, followed by those aged 45 to 49 and 35 to 39. Polarization Duarte notes that Brazil’s political polarization is also evident among Brazilians living overseas. “In general, people who come to Canada are better off financially and, as a result, tend to be more conservative. But there are also many young people here who are more progressive and tend to vote for the left,” she explained. Justification for absence from voting Voters who are abroad on Election Day and do not cast their ballots may justify their absence at one of the polling stations set up outside Brazil or through the e-Título app. “There will be no polling stations designated exclusively for voters seeking to justify their absence. In-person voting may take place only at polling stations equipped with electronic voting machines,” the Court stated.