70% of Brazilians still don’t know who to vote for in Congress

According to a poll conducted by the Datafolha Institute, most Brazilians have not yet decided on a deputy candidate for the October 2 elections, in contrast to the high percentage who have already decided on the presidential election.

Sixty-nine percent do not yet have a candidate for the Chamber of Deputies, and a similar percentage, 70 percent, have not yet decided to vote for state legislative assemblies.

Brazil’s electoral system is an open list system – voters vote directly for a candidate, not a party – and the upcoming elections will elect not only the president but also the Chamber of Deputies, part of the Senate and the legislative assemblies, as well as the governments of the country’s 27 states.

The percentage of undecided voters is highest among the youngest aged 16 to 24 (77%), among voters with primary education (74%), and in the southern region of the country (75%).

The doubts contrast with the determination with which Brazilians respond to the question of who they will vote for president: 78% say they are “totally determined” to cast their vote, according to Datafolha.

Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2003-2011) is ahead of President Jair Bolsonaro in all polls.

In his speeches, the leftist party leader frequently stresses to his supporters the importance of voting for progressive deputies and senators so that he has a good basis for governing in the National Congress.