How does Brazil’s Electoral Justice system work?

Brazil's Electoral Justice system is pretty unique

Brazil’s Electoral Justice system is pretty unique

On October 7, 144 million Brazilian voters will cast ballots in five different electoral races. They will choose a new president, new governors, new congressmen, renew two-thirds of the Senate, and choose members of the 27 state lower houses. This entire operation is overseen by one single institution: Brazil’s Electoral Justice system. From the rules of the game, to the registration of voters and guidelines for polling institutes, everything goes through the Electoral Justice system.

The Electoral Justice is a special branch of the Justice system, with three main duties: to set up the rules for elections at all levels (federal, state, municipal); to run and organize how voting takes place across Brazil, and to rule on challenges and legal controversies that may arise throughout the process.

No controversy, of course, will be more resounding than 2018’s million-dollar question: will jailed former president Lula be allowed to run for president?

Brazil’s Electoral Justice is flawed

This particular branch of justice was established in 1932, during the Getulio Vargas administration. Back then, elections were controlled by landowners from São Paulo and Minas Gerais – a political system colloquially known as ‘coffee with milk’ period, named...

Maria Martha Bruno

Maria Martha is a journalist with 14 years of experience in politics, arts, and breaking news. She has already collaborated with Al Jazeera, NBC, and CNN, among others. She has also worked as an international correspondent in Buenos Aires.