The electoral campaign begins this Sunday (16), and candidates can now advertise on the streets and on the internet. On TV and radio, advertising only starts on August 28th.
What candidates can do from this Sunday:
explicitly ask for a vote
rallies
walks, marches and motorcades
distribution of graphic material
use of speakers and sound amplifiers, within the times and limits established by legislation
paid advertisements in newspapers, within the limits defined by legislation
advertising on the internet, on websites and on social media
"The rules on electoral propaganda exist, firstly, to try to guarantee equal conditions in the electoral dispute. They define how long propaganda can be carried out and establish limits so that the competition takes place with some balance between the competitors", explains Amanda Cunha, author of the book "Sanctioned Electoral Law".
The kickoff of the presidential campaign
The main candidates for the Presidency of the Republic decided to officially start the campaign with events in their political cradles:
Lula (PT) will be in São Bernardo, where he began his political career as a trade unionist;
Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) will perform in Rio de Janeiro, where he was a state deputy for four terms and elected senator;
Renan Santos (Mission) will launch the campaign at the USP Law School, in São Paulo, where he attended his undergraduate degree, without graduating;
Ronaldo Caiado (PSD) will be in Goiás, a state he governed for two terms;
Romeu Zema (Novo) will perform in Minas Gerais, where he was elected and re-elected governor.
🤳🏻What about social media?
Starting this Sunday, candidates can also advertise on the internet. The legislation allows, for example, the publication of content on one's own profiles and paid promotion.
Sponsored content, however, must be used to promote or benefit the application itself. Paying to expand the reach of posts attacking and criticizing opponents is not permitted.
On networks, it is allowed:
ask for votes
publish campaign content
do campaign lives
hire support to promote your own candidacy
use artificial intelligence in certain situations, as long as the transparency rules provided for by the TSE are complied with
Not allowed:
boost negative electoral propaganda, such as criticism or attacks on opponents
pay or offer an economic advantage for companies or influencers to publish political-electoral publications on their own profiles, nor promote a "cutting championship"
publish, republish or promote new synthetic content made or altered by AI that uses the image, voice or expression of a candidate or public person in the 72 hours before and in the 24 hours following the vote
carry out polls related to the electoral process
How long will the campaign last?
Deadlines vary depending on the type of advertisement. Walks, motorcades, marches and distribution of graphic material, for example, can take place until 10pm on the eve of the 1st shift, scheduled for October 4th.
📢 Speakers and sound amplifiers can also operate until the day before, between 8am and 10pm. They must, however, respect a minimum distance of 200 meters from places such as seats of Power, courts, barracks and hospitals, schools, public libraries, churches and theaters.
The promotion of content on the internet can occur until October 1st.
If there is a second round for president of the Republic or governor, the campaign resumes and continues until the day before the new vote, scheduled for October 25th.
📺When does election time start on TV and radio?
Free election hours on radio and television begin on August 28th and continue until October 1st, three days before the first round.
During this period, candidates, parties, federations and coalitions have space in the broadcasters' programming, in accordance with the rules and time distribution provided for by electoral legislation.
❌What is prohibited on election day?
On voting day, campaign activities are prohibited, such as exiting the polls, distributing propaganda material and approaching voters with the aim of influencing the vote.
Voters can, however, express their preference individually and silently, for example, by wearing a candidate or party t-shirt, pin, sticker or flag.
How to report electoral irregularities?
Situations such as vote buying, irregular advertising, misuse of public resources and misinformation can be reported to the Electoral Court.
Starting this Sunday, voters will be able to use the TSE's Pardal application to report cases of irregular advertising and other electoral offenses. Whenever possible, it is important to gather photos, videos, links or other elements that help prove the complaint.
