TRE-AM begins distributing 4,100 electronic voting machines for voting in Manaus. — Photo: Disclosure/TRE-AM
The Regional Electoral Court of Amazonas (TRE-AM) began, this Friday (2), the distribution of 4,167 electronic voting machines that will be used in the 2026 General Elections in Manaus. The operation takes place two days before voting, scheduled for this Sunday (4), from 7am to 4pm.
In the capital, the equipment will be distributed among 477 voting locations in the six electoral zones of Manaus, including rural areas.
To transport the ballot boxes, TRE-AM set up an operation with 58 vehicles, including vans and Urban Cargo Vehicles (VUCs). The amount of equipment transported by each vehicle varies depending on the size and number of polling stations served.
The vehicles were divided into three categories:
large size: capacity for more than 100 ballot boxes;
medium size: between 60 and 100 pieces of equipment;
small size: between 40 and 60 urns.
The operation was planned by the Electoral Ballot Logistics Commission (CLUE) and the Transport Secretariat (SETRAN) to avoid congestion on access roads and organize the flow of preparation of voting locations.
Distribution occurs in three groups
The exit of vehicles was divided into three groups of electoral zones:
Group 1 carried out the shipment of ballot boxes from the 62nd, 32nd, 40th and 59th electoral zones this Friday morning. The equipment went directly to the voting locations.
Group 2 embarks in the afternoon, involving the 63rd, 65th, 58th, 70th and 68th electoral zones. In this case, the ballot boxes initially go to the Post Office yard, where they are located in a covered area. Distribution to voting locations takes place on Saturday morning (3).
Group 3, formed by the 1st, 2nd, 31st and 37th electoral zones, loads vehicles on Saturday. These zones are responsible for sections located in areas closest to the Manaus Electoral Forum, and the equipment goes directly to the schools and voting centers.
Each electoral office is responsible for defining routes, boarding and loading ballot boxes.
TRE-AM begins distributing 4,100 electronic voting machines for voting in Manaus. — Photo: Disclosure/TRE-AM
Planning started in March
According to the head of the 32nd Electoral Zone, Valquimar Cleto Soares, preparation work for the elections is planned throughout the year. He has been working in elections for 20 years, half of that period in Manaus.
"We have been planning the election since March, planning these moments. Today was the day the polls were shipped so that we can set up the polling stations today, get everything ready, organized, prepared for Sunday, for the whole of society to exercise their right to vote", he stated.
According to him, logistical planning also considers the possibility of holding a second shift.
"The planning done in advance already covers both the first and second rounds. So the planning is done now to carry out the election as a whole", he said.
Logistics in Amazonas
Due to the territorial extension of Amazonas, the organization of elections involves a structure that serves both the capital and municipalities in the interior, rural areas and indigenous lands.
In total, the state has 2,801,182 voters eligible to vote and 1,650 polling locations.
There are 9,166 electronic voting machines, including contingency equipment, intended for the operation of voting stations. Of this total, 4,451 are in the capital and 4,715 in the interior.
In Manaus, the distribution of equipment takes place in a staggered manner so that voting locations are prepared before the polls open this Sunday.
