What is optional voting and who is entitled to it? – 09/20/2024 – Power

Those who are 16 or 17 years old, over 70 or illiterate have optional voting rights, meaning they are not required to vote. In these elections, this is the case for around 20.5 million voters, according to the TSE (Superior Electoral Court).

According to the institution, 5.5 million people declared themselves illiterate and 1.8 million voters are 16 and 17 years old.

As for the elderly, around 10 million are between 70 and 79 years old, and approximately 4.8 million are over 79 years old.

Voters between the ages of 18 and 70 are required to vote according to Brazilian law. In this case, if they do not participate or justify their absence to the Electoral Court, they will receive a fine of 3% to 10% of the minimum wage in the region.

Furthermore, if they repeat this behavior in three consecutive elections, their registration will be cancelled. The implications of not voting and not justifying the absence of a voter are that they will be prevented from issuing documents such as an identity card, taking public exams and renewing their enrollment in a government educational institution.

The 2024 election is scheduled for the first Sunday of October, the 6th. Voting starts at 8 am and runs until 5 pm Brasília time.

The second round takes place, in cities where there is one, on the 27th of the same month.

The election will define mayors and city councilors throughout the country. Voting will take place in more than 5,500 cities and will mobilize more than 150 million voters, according to the TSE.