'Santinhos' on the streets, accessibility problems and long queues marked the Sunday (4) of voting. — Photo: Ana Clara/g1/Social networks
Voting day for the first round of the 2026 elections in Bahia was marked by long queues, streets full of so-called "santinhos" and people having difficulty accessing voting areas. The gates of the polling places were closed at 5pm this Sunday (4) and the Regional Electoral Court (TRE-BA) has already started counting the electronic ballot boxes
The gates opened at 8 am and voters pushed each other to enter the Colégio Estadual Luiz Viana, in the Brotas neighborhood, in Salvador, which is the largest voting point in Bahia, with more than 16 thousand voters. Throughout the day, the place recorded long queues on the street even before the gates opened.
The intense movement of voters was also registered in the capital, at Colégio Estadual Manoel Devoto, in Rio Vermelho, and at Colégio Estadual Raymundo de Almeida Gouveia, in São Caetano, where the wait reached three hours and queues were recorded until the end of the day.
In the Federation region, congestion hampered the flow on Caetano Moura Street, one of the main streets in the neighborhood. The traffic situation affected the mobility of voters, who also complained about a waiting time of more than two hours at the Polytechnic School of the Federal University of Bahia (Ufba) in the morning.
In different parts of the capital, as well as in cities in the interior, several streets were filled with "saints". In Salvador, Avenida Joana Angélica, one of the main streets in the Nazaré neighborhood, and Rua Caetano Moura, in the Federation, are among the points where the accumulation of saints was registered by voters.
Despite being common, the dissemination of this type of electoral advertising is considered a crime. According to the Elections Law, electoral crimes can lead to punishments such as imprisonment and fines. In Salvador, a woman was caught carrying out the illegal practice in front of the Professor José Arapiraca Municipal Education Institute (IMEJA), in the Boca do Rio neighborhood.
Accessibility
Voters faced accessibility issues at some polling locations in the state. In Feira de Santana, the second largest city in the state, a woman with mobility difficulties had to be carried on a chair by two men to gain access to the voting place.
The case happened in the morning, at the University Center for Culture and Art (Cuca), in the city center. Images taken at the scene show the woman being placed in a chair and carried by the two men up the stairs of the building.
Woman was carried to access polling place in Feira de Santana — Photo: Social Networks
In a note, the Uefs Communications Office reported that Cuca informed the TRE, during four meetings held before the elections, that the structure of the building would not allow the eight voting stations designated for the location to be accommodated exclusively on the ground floor.
According to the university, the limitation was known to the court during the process of organizing the spaces.
Vote from celebrities and candidates
Celebrities who live in Salvador also left their homes to vote this Sunday (4). Singer Daniela Mercury went to the polls with her family in this first electoral round.
Through social media, she celebrated democracy and celebrated the vote. "Long live democracy! What a joy to be able to vote for who I believe in. And as a family."
Léo Santana, who is also from Salvador, also recorded his trip to the polls through social media. The artist went to the polling place with his eldest daughter, Liz, and celebrated exercising citizenship.
"Role of citizen exercised successfully", he wrote.
Daniela Mercury and Léo Santana voted for Salvador. — Photo: Reproduction/Social media
All candidates for state government and the Senate also voted during the morning. Candidates ACM Neto (União Brasil), Ariel Capistrano (DC), Aroldo Félix (Unidade Popular) and Jerônimo Rodrigues (PT) voted in the capital. Candidate Maria Bona (PCO) voted in the city of Rio de Contas, in Chapada Diamantina, where she lives.
The situation was the same for candidates for the Senate in Bahia, who voted in different parts of the state. Angelo Coronel (Republicans), Jaques Wagner (PT), Jorão Roma (PL) and Rui Costa (PT) flew to electoral colleges in the capital of Bahia.
Elderly man falls ill and dies at polling place
Also this Sunday, a 65-year-old man died after suffering a heart attack at a polling place in Cotegipe, in western Bahia. According to information from the Military Police, the elderly man suffered cardiorespiratory arrest upon arriving at the polling place.
According to the police record, he showed signs of ischemia in the face and extremities — reduction or interruption of the flow of blood and oxygen to a specific part of the body, in addition to the absence of respiratory movements.
Elderly man was identified as Gilson Pereira da Silva — Photo: Reproduction/Social Networks
People with knowledge in the health sector provided the first care. Gilson was then taken to the Santa Cruz Medical Center for medical care.
Gilson's family informed TV Oeste, a Rede Bahia affiliate in the region, that the elderly man had heart disease and was using a cardiac pacemaker.
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