Brazil’s Election Pits Lula Against Bolsonaro in High-Stakes Vote

• The first round is scheduled to run from 8am to 5pm Brasília time on Sunday.
• President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva faces Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro.
• Voters are also choosing governors, senators and federal and state legislators.
• If no presidential candidate wins more than half the valid votes, the top two are due to meet in a 25 October run-off.

Brazil’s presidential vote was due to open at 8am in Brasília on Sunday, with Lula seeking a fourth, non-consecutive term against Flávio Bolsonaro. At 7.58am, voting had not yet begun; turnout and election-day disruptions could not yet be assessed. The electoral authority, the Superior Electoral Court, scheduled polls to close at 5pm. ^{1 2}

The contest extends beyond the presidency. Voters are also choosing state governors, two-thirds of the Senate, and members of federal and state legislatures. Nearly 159 million people are eligible, according to the Associated Press. ^{3 2}

The campaign has brought Brazil’s relationship with Washington into the race. The AP describes Flávio Bolsonaro as an ally of US President Donald Trump and reports that he has highlighted his links with the White House. Lula has warned about foreign influence; those warnings are campaign claims, not proof of interference. ²

The result could also shape domestic policy, including the future of Amazon protections. The AP reports that experts warn a Bolsonaro victory could reverse deforestation-control policies restored under Lula. That is a possible consequence of the vote, not a change that has happened. ²

The Superior Electoral Court says results are to be published after polls close and updated as voting records are processed. If no presidential candidate receives more than half of the valid votes, a run-off is scheduled for 25 October. ^{4 1}

Footnotes

1. Superior Electoral Court, election information for 2026 ↩ ↩²

2. Associated Press, “Brazil presidential vote pits Trump ally against Lula, who is seeking 4th nonconsecutive term” ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

3. Agência Brasil, “About 158.7 million voters head to the polls across the country” ↩

4. Superior Electoral Court, “2026 election results can be followed in real time” ↩