Elections 2026 abroad start in New Zealand
The voting of Brazilian citizens abroad for the 2026 Elections begins in New Zealand, due to time zones, and lasts for more than 29 hours. In total, 918,876 voters are eligible to vote outside Brazil, in 186 cities in other countries.
Brazilians vote abroad for the 2026 elections begins on Saturday (3/10) in New Zealand, the first country to open the ballot boxes due to the difference in time zones. The process will extend for more than 29 hours, ending only at 9 pm on Sunday (4/10), by the time of Brasilia, in sections located in Canada.
According to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), 918,876 Brazilians are eligible to vote outside the country. The number represents a 31.82% increase compared to 2022, when 697,078 voters were qualified abroad.
How does voting abroad work?
Unlike in Brazil, where voting time is unified by Brasilia time, polling stations abroad operate according to the local time of each country. It is this difference that allows the Brazilian election to begin before the opening of the ballot boxes in national territory.
As the day progresses through the different spindles, new sections are opened in other countries. The last ones to close the vote are in Canada, at 9 pm on Sunday, by the time of Brasilia.
Where Brazilians Vote Outside the Country
Voting outside Brazil takes place in 186 cities in other countries. Estados Unidos, Portugal and Japan are among the countries that concentrate the largest contingents of Brazilian voters abroad.
The Justiça Eleitoral maintains sections in embassies, consular offices and other locations set to receive Brazilian voters. The organization involves the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), the Regional Electoral Court of the Federal District (TRE-DF) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Who can vote and for what positions
Unlike those who have an electoral domicile in Brazil, the Brazilian elector registered abroad votes only for president and vice president of the Republic. This means that there is no vote for governor, senator or federal, state and district deputies in the electoral sections outside the country. These positions are chosen by voters with electoral domicile in the Brazilian territory.
To install a section abroad, there must be at least 30 eligible voters in the constituency. When the number does not reach this minimum, Justiça Eleitoral can add the section to another located in the same electoral municipality and in the same country.
Voting in Brazil follows Brasilia time
In Brazil, the first round will take place on Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., following the official time of Brasilia. The rule applies to all cities in the country that participate in the poll.
While voters abroad are already voting, Brazilians in national territory still await the opening of the ballot boxes on Sunday. The difference in time zones makes the election a continuous process around the world.
Election context and next steps
The MP Electoral also requests the cassation of the diploma of the deputy Júlia Marinho (PSC). The source did not detail the reasons for the request or the relationship with the elections abroad.
With the overseas voting beginning, the results are expected to begin to be released after the closing of the last sections in Canada. The TSE shall disclose the consolidated numbers after the closure of all ballot boxes.
For more information on the 2026 Elections, continue to follow the Boca no Trombone Portal.
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The ballot boxes are still closed in Brazil (www.tse.jus.br)
