By Jay Forte, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – General elections are scheduled to be held in Brazil on October 7, 2018 to elect the President, Vice President and the National Congress as well as local government positions. Yesterday (September 27th) it was announced that more than 28,000 troops will be deployed to ensure security and support across the country.
The Defense Ministry has confirmed that so far the Higher Electoral Tribunal (TSE) has approved the deployment of Armed Forces personnel to ensure Voting Assurance (GVA) and logistical support at 598 locations in thirteen states. More than 28,000 troops are expected to take part in the 2018 election.
For the activities related to voting and calculation, the following states will have a military presence: Acre, 11 locations; Maranhão, 72; Piauí, 122; Rio de Janeiro, 69; Amazonas, 26; Mato Grosso, 19; Mato Grosso do Sul, 4; Pará, 60; Rio Grande do Norte, 97; Tocantins, 12 and Ceará, 5.
The assistance of the Armed Forces in the logistic support is made for the transportation of Electoral Justice personnel and ballot boxes. The military carries out this task with personnel from the Electoral Court. In total, for this purpose the army will be in 101 locations in five states. In Acre, 41 locations will be served; in the Amazon, 25; in Amapá, 5; in Mato Grosso do Sul, 4 and in Roraima, 26.
In Brazil, if the most-voted candidate takes more than fifty percent of the overall vote, he or she is declared elected. If the fifty percent threshold is not met by any candidate, a second round of voting is held on the last Sunday in the month (October 28th).
Elections for state Governors and Vice Governors, state Legislative Assemblies and Federal District Legislative Chamber will be held at the same time.