Brazil runoff: Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro cast their votes; polls close at 5 p.m.

Polling stations across Brazil opened at 8 a.m. on Sunday (Oct. 25) for the runoff of the 2026 elections, which pits President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of the Workers' Party (PT) against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party (PL). Voting runs until 5 p.m. Brasília time, which applies nationwide. Because of time zones, polls in parts of Acre opened at 6 a.m. local time and in most of Amazonas at 7 a.m. Anyone in line at 5 p.m. will still be allowed to vote.

How the candidates voted

Flávio Bolsonaro voted shortly after polls opened, a little after 8 a.m., at the Barão Homem de Mello municipal school in Vila Isabel, in Rio de Janeiro's North Zone, accompanied by his wife. Speaking to reporters, he criticized the handling of the economy and public security and called for a change of course. According to his campaign, he is heading to Brasília to follow the count alongside allies such as São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas and São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes.

Lula voted at around 9:40 a.m. in São Bernardo do Campo, in the São Paulo metropolitan region known as the ABC, accompanied by first lady Janja, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin (PSB) and current and former ministers. The president highlighted the mobilization of supporters in the last week of the campaign and thanked voters. He is expected to spend the afternoon at home in São Paulo and, after polls close, go to a hotel in the Jardim Paulista neighborhood to follow the count.

“Brazil can't take four more years of the way things are.”

— Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), after voting in Rio de Janeiro (translated from Portuguese)

“I'm going to vote grateful to the Brazilian people.”

— Lula (PT), after voting in São Bernardo do Campo (translated from Portuguese)

What to bring and the rules of the day

Voters must show an official photo ID, such as a national ID card, driver's license or passport, or the e-Título, the electoral court's digital voter card, with a photo. The paper voter card is not required. Electoral authorities recommend bringing a paper note with the candidates' numbers, since phones and other electronic devices are banned in the voting booth. Those who missed the first round can vote normally, since each round is treated as a separate election. Those who do not vote must file a justification through the e-Título app or the Justifica system.

On election day, voters may only express support individually and silently: flags, pins and stickers are allowed. Campaigning near polling stations, rallies, motorcades, loudspeakers and transport of voters by candidates or parties are banned. Public transit is free on Sunday in several cities. In Rio de Janeiro, free rides apply to trains, the subway, ferries, BRT and light rail. Rules vary by city.

Where there are gubernatorial runoffs

• Acre: Mailza Assis (PP) vs. Alan Rick (Republicanos)
• Amazonas: Omar Aziz (PSD) vs. Professora Maria do Carmo (PL)
• Federal District: Celina Leão (PP) vs. Leandro Grass (PT)
• Espírito Santo: Lorenzo Pazolini (Republicanos) vs. Ricardo Ferraço (MDB)
• Rio Grande do Norte: Allyson (União) vs. Cadu de Lula (PT)
• Tocantins: Professora Dorinha (União) vs. Vicentinho Júnior (PSDB)

In these places, the voting machine shows the gubernatorial race first and then the presidential race. In Rio de Janeiro, which was initially expected to hold a runoff, Douglas Ruas (PL) was declared elected in the first round after a recount.

What the latest polls show

• Datafolha (Folha/TV Globo; 4,050 interviews; margin of error 2 points; BR-09540/2026): Flávio 51% vs. Lula 49% of valid votes; 48% vs. 47% of total votes
• Quaest (Globo; 3,702 interviews; margin of error 2 points; BR-09158/2026): Flávio 51% vs. Lula 49% of valid votes
• AtlasIntel/Bloomberg (4,990 interviews; margin of error 1 point): Flávio 50.8% vs. Lula 49.2% of valid votes

In all three surveys released on Saturday (Oct. 24), the gap between the candidates is within the margin of error, a statistical tie.

When results come out

Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE) starts releasing the count at 5 p.m. Brasília time, as soon as polls close. Results are published simultaneously for all states. They can be followed in real time on resultados.tse.jus.br and in the Resultados app, filtered by state and city. In 2022, the runoff result was settled shortly before 8 p.m.