After a broad social media campaign supported by celebrities and digital influencers, roughly 2 million 16- and 17-year-olds registered to vote for the first time, ahead of October’s election. The deadline for registration expired at midnight on Wednesday evening.
The amount of new voters was 47 and 57 percent higher than general elections in 2014 and 2018, respectively. The data was disclosed this afternoon by Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin, head of the Superior Electoral Court.
Back in February, the court lamented that the number of registered voters under the age of 18 was the lowest in Brazilian history. Online mobilization from celebrities such as pop star Anitta and Hollywood actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo helped turn the tide.
Voting is mandatory for Brazilians over the age of 18, but remains optional for citizens aged 16 or 17. Current polls show that former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is the preferred candidate among Brazil’s youngest would-be voters.
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