More than 134,000 Brazilians registered in Portugal are set to vote in the Brazilian presidential elections on October 4. According to the Brazilian Electoral Court (TSE), voting is mandatory for all literate citizens between the ages of 18 and 70, including those living abroad. To exercise their right to vote, Brazilian immigrants in Portugal had to update their electoral address with the TSE by May.
The polling stations will be open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time, and Brazilians can vote at designated locations in Porto, Lisbon, and Faro. In Lisbon, due to the large number of voters, voting will take place at three separate locations: the University of Lisbon's Rectorate, the Faculty of Law, and the Faculty of Letters. In Porto, voting will occur at the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP), while in Faro, voters can cast their ballots at the Brazilian Consulate.
To vote, Brazilians will need to present an official Brazilian document with a photo. However, in Lisbon, the Brazilian Consulate has made an exception and will also accept official Portuguese documents with a photo. According to the Brazilian Consul-General in Lisbon, Alessandro Candeas, registering to vote will also serve as proof of life for the National Social Security Institute for those over 70 years old.
The 134,797 registered Brazilian voters in Portugal will only be able to vote for the President and Vice-President, as voting for governors, deputies, and senators is restricted to citizens living in Brazil. Portugal is the second-largest electoral college abroad, after the United States. The Brazilian electoral process has begun, with 158.7 million eligible voters and several candidates vying for the presidency.
The presidential election appears to be a duel between incumbent President Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. However, other parties, particularly on the conservative side, will also present their candidates, including Romeu Zema, former governor of Minas Gerais, and Ronaldo Caiado, former governor of Goiás.
Brazilian citizens in Portugal can check their designated polling station and confirm their voter registration using the "e-Título" app. Those unable to vote must justify their absence on the TSE website or through the "e-Título" app. The voting process is an important civic duty for Brazilians, and those who fail to vote may face consequences.
The Brazilian presidential election is a significant event, with implications for the country's future. As Brazilians in Portugal exercise their right to vote, they will be contributing to the outcome of the election, which will determine the country's leadership for the next term. The election is a crucial aspect of Brazilian democracy, and the participation of citizens abroad is essential to the process.
Key points
- Over 134,000 Brazilians registered in Portugal will vote in the presidential elections on October 4.
- Voting is mandatory for all literate Brazilian citizens between 18 and 70 years old, including those living abroad.
- The polling stations will be open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time in Porto, Lisbon, and Faro.
