Brazil votes Sunday for president, Congress, governors

Brazilians go to the polls on Sunday, 4 October, for the first round of the 2026 general election. Voting runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Brasília time, with local hours adjusted for the country's multiple time zones. Anyone still in line at closing time may cast a ballot.

Each voter will make six choices on the electronic ballot: one federal deputy, one state or district deputy, two senators, one governor, and the president. The Senate is renewing two-thirds of its 81 seats, meaning 54 seats are contested this year. All 513 seats in the Chamber of Deputies are also up for election, along with 1,035 state assembly seats and 24 district deputy seats.

Voting is mandatory for citizens aged 18 to 70 and optional for those aged 16-17, over 70, or illiterate. Voters must have turned 16 by 4 October and hold a regular voter registration. The ballot order is fixed: federal deputy (four digits), state deputy (five digits), first senator (three digits), second senator (three digits), governor (two digits), and president (two digits). A new progress bar on the screen shows which offices have been voted and which remain.

Results may begin to be released by the Electoral Justice after 5 p.m. Brasília time. If no presidential candidate wins an absolute majority, a runoff will be held on 25 October.