Polls open for the first round of the 2026 elections in Brazil

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.

Voting for the presidential election has already closed in New Zealand this Sunday (4). This happens because the country is 16 hours ahead of Brasília time. Of the 332 valid votes, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received 234, while Flávio Bolsonaro had 64. Renan Santos came in third place, with 13 votes. The blank and null votes totaled 7.

The polls will be open from 8am to 5pm in the 2026 elections in both the first round and the eventual second round, on October 25th. Voting times are unified across the country according to Brasília time.

This Sunday (4), the first round of elections, more than 158 million Brazilians can go to the polls to exercise their right to vote. The positions of president of the Republic, governor, senator (two vacancies), federal deputy, state deputy or district deputy are up for grabs.

In the 2026 elections for president and governor, a candidate must have more than half of the valid votes to be elected in the first round. Valid votes are those given to candidates. Blank and null votes do not count.

The first round of the 2026 elections, this Sunday (4), is expected to see rain in several parts of the country during the voting period, from 8 am to 5 pm, Brasília time. According to Climatempo, the weather is expected to become more unstable, especially in the South and areas of the Central-West and Southeast during the morning.

Datafolha polls released this Saturday (3), the day before the vote, show Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) ahead in valid votes in the 1st round in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and the Federal District. Lula (PT) leads in Pernambuco. In Minas Gerais, the two are tied, with 44% each.