Brazil Extends Voting by Two Hours After Briefly Starting Count
The court acted after Lula’s campaign said reduced bus service blocked voters, and results were paused until polls closed.
- On Sunday, October 25, 2026, Supreme Federal Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ordered nationwide voting extended by two hours until 7 p.m. Brasilia time following requests from both presidential campaigns citing logistical disruptions.
- President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva cited reduced bus fleets in nine states, while Senator Flavio Bolsonaro highlighted weather-related outages in the south. Both campaigns argued these obstacles hindered voter access.
- Shortly after 5 p.m. Brasilia time, the Superior Electoral Court paused the national vote count as some polling stations had already deactivated machines. Electoral authorities clarified all cast votes remain valid.
- Confusion at many polling stations created legal uncertainty regarding the runoff's validity. Authorities must now navigate these administrative hurdles to finalize the outcome of Brazil's closely contested presidential election.
- Markets reacted sharply, with Bolsonaro's win probability falling from 83.9% on Saturday to about 65% by late Sunday afternoon. Observers worry the legal uncertainty echoes tensions from 2022 when former President Jair Bolsonaro refused to concede.
295 Articles
295 Articles
Brazil resumes vote counting after last-minute extension of polling hours in tense presidential race
Polls have closed after a last-minute extension in a neck-and-neck race between incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro, son of Jair Bolsonaro, the former Brazilian president currently serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election.
The Herald Scotland
Brazil resumes vote count after last-minute extension of polling station hours
The decision set the stage for possible legal challenges no matter who wins.
Around 159 million Brazilians were called on to vote. First results of the presidential election are expected at night - a tight race is indicated.
volksfreund.de
saarbruecker-zeitung.deAround 159 million Brazilians were called on to vote. First results of the presidential election are expected at night - a tight race is indicated.
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilians decide on Sunday if they grant the current left-wing president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva a fourth term or turn back to the extreme right by electing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, ally of the...
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