Foreigners sometimes seem dazzled by the high voter turnouts in our elections – it’s above nearly all developed nations – without understanding that voting in Brazil isn’t just a right, it’s also a legal obligation.
Citizens between 18 and 70 years old, regardless if they’re living abroad, are required by law to vote (or else present a justification to the Electoral Justice System for absence). Failing to do so has serious consequences, as we can be prevented from obtaining passports, taking out loans from public banks, or even enrolling in a public educational institution.
Every two years we must go...
