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Brazil elects its president using a two-round system. A candidate wins in the first round only by receiving more than half of the valid votes. If no one reaches that threshold, the two candidates with the most first-round votes face each other in a new election, and the candidate with more valid votes in that runoff wins.
How the first round decides whether there will be a runoff
In the first round, voters choose among the registered presidential tickets. The threshold is an absolute majority: more than half of the valid votes. Blank and null votes are excluded from the valid-vote total, so they do not help a candidate reach the threshold. The Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE) explains this rule in its Electoral Glossary.
- If a candidate gets more than half of valid votes: that candidate is elected president.
- If no candidate gets more than half: the two candidates with the most first-round votes advance to a runoff.
What happens in the runoff
A runoff is a separate election between the two finalists, not a continuation of the first-round count. Voters make a fresh choice, and first-round ballots do not carry over. The finalist who receives more valid votes in the runoff wins, as the TSE describes in its election guidance.
Brazil’s 2026 presidential election dates
For the 2026 general election, the TSE schedules the first round for October 4, 2026. If a runoff is needed, it is scheduled for October 25, 2026. These are dates for the 2026 election, not fixed dates that apply every year. See the TSE’s 2026 election rules and guidance.
What voting day looks like
Brazil’s presidential vote takes place alongside elections for other offices. The 2026 ballot order is federal deputy, state or district deputy, two Senate seats, governor and vice governor, and then president and vice president. The electronic voting machine displays the candidate’s name, photograph, office and party; the presidential choice comes last. The TSE outlines the sequence in its voting guidance.
Hours and eligibility in 2026
The TSE says voting is scheduled nationwide from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Brasília time. For the 2026 election, voters needed to have registered by May 6, and needed to be at least 16 years old by October 4 to vote in either round. Check the TSE’s 2026 voter information for official details.
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The TSE’s 2026 election page reports 158,765,543 eligible voters. That figure is the size of the eligible electorate, not the number who turned out or votes cast for president.
The key distinction: first-round threshold versus runoff winner
The first round asks whether any candidate has more than half of valid votes. The runoff, if required, asks which of the two finalists gets more valid votes in a new vote. Blank and null votes are outside the valid-vote calculation; they do not count toward either candidate’s total.
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