Brazil Moves 4,352 Polling Sites for Runoff
BRAZIL · ELECTIONS
Published Friday, 16 October, 8:45 p.m. ET · Source: Brazil’s electoral court (TSE)
Key Facts
- The country Brazil, Latin America’s largest country, holds its presidential runoff on Sunday 25 October between President Lula and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
- What happened On Friday 16 October the electoral court (TSE) announced new addresses for 4,352 voting sections.
- The numbers That is 0.87% of the 499,248 voting sections in Brazil.
- Biggest changes São Paulo has 982 sections, Minas Gerais 514, Rio de Janeiro 431 and Bahia 312.
- Why Last-minute renovations, accessibility fixes and storm damage to buildings forced the moves.
- Power Index Brazil ranks 1st of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 75.0 points (October 2026 edition).
- Prediction markets Polymarket gives Flávio Bolsonaro a 77.6% chance of winning the 25 October runoff (16 October, 8:43 p.m. ET). Polymarket puts Flávio Bolsonaro’s chance of winning at 78% and Kalshi at 78% (Lula: 23% and 23%), as of 16 October, 8:40 pm ET; prices are bets, not polls.
- Still open The announcement counts sections, not voters, so how many people must change address is not known.
Runoff · Sunday, 25 October
Brazil Runoff 2026: Lula vs Flávio
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Brazil’s electoral court (TSE) announced on Friday 16 October that 4,352 voting sections will move to new addresses for the Brazil election 2026 runoff on 25 October. That is 0.87% of the 499,248 sections nationwide, so most voters keep the polling place they used in the first round.
The runoff pits Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s president, against Flávio Bolsonaro, senator for Rio de Janeiro, and the latest Brazil election polls show a close race. Voters can check their address in the e-Título app or on the TSE website.
What the Electoral Court Announced
The TSE said 4,352 sections changed address between the first round on 4 October and the runoff, Agência Brasil reported. The figure equals 0.87% of the 499,248 sections in the country, according to Tribuna do Sertão.
A section is a polling station with its own fixed list of voters. Voting is compulsory for most adult Brazilians, so a wrong address matters.
Where the Moves Are Concentrated
São Paulo state has the most, with 982 sections, followed by Minas Gerais with 514, Rio de Janeiro with 431 and Bahia with 312, Tribuna do Sertão reported. Together those four states account for 2,239 sections, just over half of the total.
These are also the four most populous states in Brazil, according to the 2022 census of the statistics institute IBGE. Large numbers there are unsurprising.
Why Addresses Changed
The electoral justice cited last-minute renovations, accessibility work in public buildings and heavy rain that forced precautionary transfers to nearby, safer buildings, Agência Brasil reported. The changes are not ordered centrally, since each local electoral zone decides according to the buildings available.
Electrical failures and structural damage from heavy rain were also on the list, Tribuna do Sertão reported. Voters in those buildings will vote at a different address on 25 October.
How Voters Can Check Their Polling Place
Voters can open the e-Título app, the electoral court’s voter-ID app, and choose “Onde votar” (where to vote) to see their address, electoral zone and section number, Tribuna do Sertão reported. The same lookup is available on the TSE’s online Electoral Self-Service portal.
The app also gives route directions, according to Tribuna do Sertão. Voters should check before Sunday 25 October rather than on the day.
What It Means for US Readers
For US investors in Brazilian stocks, bonds or US-listed Brazilian shares, this is an administrative note rather than a market event, because 0.87% of sections is a small share. In a race the polls show as close, the smooth running of the vote is part of what markets watch.
Readers following from the United States can use the TSE’s own count of 4,352 as the benchmark for any later claim about changed polling places. Official numbers help separate real problems from rumours.
What Prediction Markets Say
On Polymarket, an online prediction market, bettors give Flávio Bolsonaro a 77.6% chance of winning the 25 October runoff and Lula 22.5% (16 October, 8:43 p.m. ET). The “Brazil Presidential Election” market has drawn about US$185.0 million in total bets, and our Brazil election odds page tracks it.
Prediction markets · who wins the runoff
Implied chance of winning Brazil’s presidency on 25 October, from traders’ prices.
Polymarket
Flávio Bolsonaro 77.6% · Lula 22.5% (US$185 million traded)
Kalshi (regulated in the US by the CFTC)
Flávio Bolsonaro 78% · Lula 23%
As of 16 October, 8:40 pm ET (01:40 Lisbon), updated every 20 minutes. Prices are bets, not polls, and can move fast.
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
What Is Not Known
The announcement counts sections, not voters, so the number of people who must go to a new address is not known. Figures for states other than the four above were not in the reports we reviewed.
It is also not known whether any of the moves will stay in place for future elections. That depends on the local electoral zones, which decide each case.
More: Brazil news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many polling places changed for Brazil’s runoff?
The TSE says 4,352 voting sections have new addresses, 0.87% of the 499,248 sections nationwide. The change compares the 25 October runoff with the 4 October first round.
When is Brazil’s runoff?
Brazilians vote on Sunday 25 October, choosing between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro. The winner takes office as president for a four-year term.
How can I find my polling place in Brazil?
Open the e-Título app and choose “Onde votar”, or use the TSE’s online Electoral Self-Service portal. Both show the address, electoral zone and section number.
Why did some polling places change?
The electoral justice cites last-minute renovations, accessibility work and storm damage to buildings. Each local electoral zone decides its own cases.
Which states have the most changes?
São Paulo has 982 sections, Minas Gerais 514, Rio de Janeiro 431 and Bahia 312. Together they hold just over half of all the changes.
Sources: Agência Brasil (Rádio Nacional), 16 October 2026; Tribuna do Sertão, 16 October 2026; Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE), October 2026; Polymarket, 16 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief