Almost 290,000 indigenous people are eligible to vote across Brazil this Sunday

Almost 290 thousand indigenous people are eligible to vote this Sunday (4) across the country. To guarantee the right to vote, the Electoral Court takes ballot boxes to isolated villages.

TRE took five ballot boxes by plane to the Pavuru village, in the Xingu Indigenous Park, in Mato Grosso. Two for voting and three in reserve; 554 indigenous people from 21 villages in the region are expected to vote this Sunday (4). And some will also be poll workers.

“It involves quite large and extensive logistics, not only in terms of distance, but also in terms of schedules”, says Adriano dos Santos, coordinator of the operation.

For some voters, the challenge is getting there. The boat journey along the Xingu River can take six to nine hours. Transport is guaranteed by the Electoral Court, to allow residents of distant villages to also participate in the vote.

"We have to get here early so we don't miss our schedule. Suddenly, on our trip, something unexpected can happen", says the Awa Kaiabi indigenous man.

Almost 290 thousand indigenous people are eligible to vote this Sunday (4) across the country — Photo: Jornal Nacional/ Reproduction

In Rondônia, the transport of ballot boxes began on Thursday (1st) to serve more than 7 thousand indigenous people and quilombolas. In Amazonas, ballot boxes began arriving on Friday (2), by boat, in communities in the Parintins region. A five-hour trip for the poll workers, who take more than just the ballot box to the villages.

"Trust, respect over democracy. That's worth it for everyone today, for the Brazilian people", says poll worker Zacarias Ferreira.

"We start to discuss, organize ourselves so that we can demand it later. As soon as this candidate wins, and demand from him what we need here in the village", says professor Iokore Kawakum Ikpeng.