Explaining Brazil #216: What to keep an eye out for on Election Day

Brazil’s Election Day is right around the corner. 

Over 156 million people are eligible to vote, making Brazil the world’s fifth-largest democracy — after India, the U.S., Indonesia, and Pakistan. 

Brazilians will elect their president for the next four years, but also 513 House members, 27 senators of a total of 81, governors for the country’s 27 states, and thousands of state legislators.

And the election comes with looming fears that President Jair Bolsonaro, who is in a position of disadvantage according to the polls, may try to challenge the results and overthrow the election.

This week, we’re discussing the main things you need to pay attention to on Election Day.

🗓️ Save the date: On Election Day, The Brazilian Report will host a live broadcast with special guests to comment on the electoral results and what to expect for the country after the vote is counted. Add to your calendar!

Listen and subscribe to our podcast from your mobile device:

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Guest:

• Euan Marshall is an editor at The Brazilian Report and also hosts the Explaining Brazil podcast in the absence of Gustavo Ribeiro.

This episode used music from Uppbeat. License codes: HLV454OEALKQ0QVC, JAWBPNFRZHIXEMLU, BZKK6E8CHP9VMNMG, E6NW1T3J1JVTLCC3, KN8CXMZ8UAY0ZR4R, GNCKZJK0T2B9DT3Q.

Background reading:

• We have launched a special 2022 election report with everything you need to know about the races for Congress, governorships, and, of course, the presidency. Buy it here! Use the promo code Explaining2022 for a 20-percent discount.
• Here’s our take on the first presidential debate of 2022.
• Though there isn’t a term for it in Brazil, voting left for president and right for governor — or vice-versa — is common across many Brazilian states. Cedê Silva writes about how ticket-splitting is a big thing in Brazil.
• The polls suggest Lula could pull off a first-round win on October 2. It would be a first since 1998, when Fernando Henrique Cardoso won a second term without the need for a runoff.
• Few places around the world dedicate as much importance to election jingles as Brazil, where the catchy tunes have become an ever-present part of the democratic process.

Do you have a suggestion for our next Explaining Brazil podcast? Drop us a line at podcast@brazilian.report

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• #elections
• #jairBolsonaro
• #lula