International observers will monitor Brazil’s October 7 elections

For the first time ever, a mission of international observers linked to the Organization of American States (OAS) will monitor the Brazilian electoral process – the first round is scheduled for October 7, when Brazil is set to elect a new president, 513 congressmen, 54 senators, 27 governors, and over 1,000 state lawmakers.

This kind of mission is more common in countries where electoral results are more contested and elections are marked by accusations of fraud, violence, institutional turmoil, or social conflicts. Recently, the Venezuelan election that kept the increasingly anti-democratic Nicolás Maduro government in power – and that was challenged by his opposition – was followed by international observers.

However, even in more established...