Brazil Extends Voting by Two Hours After Briefly Starting Count
- On Sunday, Brazil's Supreme Federal Court ordered a two-hour extension for the presidential election, with polling stations nationwide now set to close at 7 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.
- President Luiz Inacio Lula and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro separately requested the extension, citing voter access challenges; Lula's campaign reported transport issues in nine states while Bolsonaro's team noted power outages in Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul.
- Supreme Justice Cristiano Zanin issued the ruling at 5 p.m., citing transportation and weather disruptions to address problems in three cities in Bahia. The Superior Electoral Court was tasked with implementing the nationwide decision.
- Officials at the Superior Electoral Court paused the preliminary vote count immediately following the court decision, halting data release that showed Lula leading Flavio Bolsonaro with 0.25 per cent of ballots counted.
- This runoff features incumbent Lula against rival Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, as both campaigns sought the extension to ensure equitable voter access amid infrastructure obstacles.
236 Articles
236 Articles
In the presidential election in Brazil, the polling stations remain open for two hours at the order of the Supreme Court. Supreme Judge Cristiano Zanin justified the extension until 7 p.m. local time (2:00 p.m. CET) with problems in public transport.
Judge of the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil, Cristiano Zanin, decided to extend the voting period throughout the country until 7 p.m. on Sunday, local time, against the background of reports of restrictions on the movement of public transport in a number of cities.
The court ordered Sunday to extend voting operations in Brazil, in the second round of presidential elections between conservative Flávio Bolsonaro and left-wing president Lula, who claimed that some voters were prevented from going to the polls.
Problems with public transport have consequences for the presidential election in Brazil. Counting had already begun when the Supreme Court intervened.
Problems with public transport have consequences for the presidential election in Brazil. Counting had already begun when the Supreme Court intervened.
Officials closed ballot boxes, issued bulletins and delivered results to the regional courts — a process that cannot be reversed. Postponement arose at the request of the PT and at least one section reopened.
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