Arrests for exit polls and vote buying mark elections in Pernambuco

According to the Secretary of Social Defense of Pernambuco, Alessandro Carvalho, there were arrests for exit polls and vote buying, with the seizure of money. He also stated that the Federal Police has already reached the limit for processing incidents, and has authorized the recording of crimes by the Civil Police.

According to the SDS, the three people were arrested in Petrolina, Sertão, for distributing campaign material after midnight, which constitutes an electoral crime. In Recife, there were also records of arrests in the Madalena neighborhood, in the West Zone of the city. The SDS, however, did not detail the number of arrests in the capital.

In Afogados da Ingazeira, in Sertão, councilor Mário Siqueira Martins (Republicans) and a man identified as Geneilson Firmino da Silva were detained. They would be distributing food to voters and supporters near Colégio Normal and Faculdade do Sertão do Pajeú, during the vote.

During a press conference, the Secretary of Social Defense of Pernambuco, Alessandro Carvalho, stated that the security forces are acting in an integrated manner with the Regional Electoral Court (TRE) and the police.

The secretary, however, did not say how much money was seized. Also according to Alessandro Carvalho, incidents are forwarded to the competent authorities for the adoption of appropriate legal measures, such as the Federal Police and the Civil Police.

"The Federal Police have already been in touch, they are part of the Integrated Center, and have asked me not to forward any further incidents involving prisoners to the Federal Police, because they have reached their maximum capacity to process the receipt of these incidents, and have already authorized the sending of the incidents to the Civil Police stations", he said.

At least two candidates denounced alleged electoral crimes this Sunday (4). The Pernambuco de Coração Coalition, led by Raquel Lyra (PSD), stated that it took action after reports of vote buying and exit polls in different parts of Recife.

The Popular Front of Pernambuco, led by João Campos (PSB), reported suspicions of vote buying and irregular distribution of campaign materials, such as shirts, in more than 20 cities in the state.

The Popular Front also denounced what it classified as irregular action by the Military Police during attacks on militants in Recife. Also according to the coalition, in Camaragibe, in Greater Recife, videos and audios of messages were identified stating that voters would receive R$100 and purple shirts in exchange for supporting Raquel Lyra.

The Popular Front also reported the arrest of a man suspected of polling in Arcoverde, in the Sertão of Pernambuco. g1 contacted SDS to confirm the arrest, but did not receive a response until the last update of this report.