2026 presidential elections in Brazil: monitoring the first round

This Sunday (4) the international press covered the presidential elections in Brazil, highlighting the political polarization in the country, the Banco Master crisis, potential interference by the United States in the election and the future of Latin America itself. The newspaper "The New York Times" said that the "dispute could define the future of Latin America" ​​and cited the Trump government's fear of interference in Brazilian elections.

The only school in Borá (SP), the city that is home to the smallest electoral college in Brazil, suffered a power outage due to bad weather this Sunday morning (4), in the first round of the 2026 elections. As a result, the school operates without power and ballot boxes register votes being kept by battery.

Presidential candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) voted this Sunday morning (4) at the João Firmino state school, in the Assunção neighborhood, in São Bernardo do Campo, in ABC Paulista. He arrived accompanied by Marina Silva, Simone Tebet, Haddad and vice Geraldo Alckmin.

Rio de Janeiro government candidate Eduardo Paes (PSD) voted this Sunday morning (4) at the Gávea Golf Club, in the South Zone of Rio. The former mayor arrived at the location at 8:50 am.

In Umuarama, in the northwest of Paraná, voting at Colégio Alfa, where 1,051 voters cast their votes, began in the dark. There has been no electricity since 7:30 am. The ballot boxes operate by battery.

Voters in Paris report queues lasting more than three hours to vote. According to data from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), the city has 27,062 thousand voters eligible to vote.

A report by the Federal Police shows that the Federal Police (PF) launched three investigations on the morning of this Sunday (4) during the 2026 elections. In total, 27 people were taken to police stations.

Voting begins in Brazil, with the opening of electoral colleges at 8 am. To vote in the 2026 elections, voters must present an official document with a photo to the poll workers. A paper voter registration card is not mandatory.

Minister Nunes Marques, president of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), arrived at the electoral college in Brasília shortly before 8 am. He followed the issuance of the zerésima, a printed document that proves that there were no votes registered in the ballot box before voting began. Marques has his electoral address in Teresina, Piauí, but asked to vote in transit in the federal capital.

For millions of Brazilians, the first round of elections, this Sunday (4), will also be a working day. Brazilian legislation guarantees workers the right to be absent for the time necessary to vote, without suffering any harm.

Of the 348 valid votes in Singapore, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received 190 votes, while Flávio Bolsonaro had 92. Renan Santos came in third place, with 22 votes, followed by Escritor Augusto Cury, with 21. Zema received 12 votes, Ronaldo Caiado, 6, Clariana Barão, 1, Rui Costa Pimenta, 2, and Samara, 2. The blank and null votes totaled 16.