Landmark Electoral Reform Bill Passes in Brazil’s House

Brazil’s House endorsed the initial segment of an electoral reform bill on Wednesday, with revisions scheduled for Thursday.

The Senate and President Luís Inácio Lula da Silva must accept the bill before October 6 for the 2024 elections.

It passed with 367 votes in favor, 86 against, and one abstention.

The reform is comprehensive. It alters rules about campaign funding, gender quotas, and financial reporting.

The bill includes two types: ordinary law and complementary law. It also allows personal donations via Pix without requiring a specific ID key.

The current rule caps donations to 10% of a donor’s previous year’s income.

Banks must send donor profiles to election officials within 72 hours of a Pix transaction. The bill was drafted by a group chaired by MP Dani Cunha.

Six other MPs were involved. More changes are coming; a special committee will vote on party and campaign account amnesty next week.

The bill’s scope includes complex issues like fake news and gender quotas, which will be discussed later.

Funds for parties will remain even if accounts are rejected. Parties can use funds for candidate safety regardless of gender.

It also relaxes the specific fund for female candidates.

New Rules

The period for party conventions is moved up by 15 days. The time to register candidates is cut from 10 to six days.

Gender fraud, such as sham female candidates, is clearly defined. Election advertising online doesn’t have to include vice candidates or coalition names on every post.

It sets new rules for ineligibility periods for politicians. Sanctions only target specific party organs, not entire federations.

Free TV and radio time must meet a 30% female quota weekly. A registered statistician must digitally sign polls.

The bill also outlines rules for collective candidacies and public worker eligibility.

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