Over 918,000 Brazilians Abroad Vote in 2026 Presidential Election, Marking 30% Increase Since 2022

Voting for the 2026 Brazilian presidential elections began on October 3 abroad, starting earliest in New Zealand and followed by Australia. New Zealand's Wellington hosted the first polls for its 3,100 eligible Brazilian voters, opening from 8 AM to 5 PM local time. Australia followed with voting locations in major cities including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Canberra. On October 4, Japan, which holds the third-largest Brazilian electorate abroad with approximately 88,000 registered voters, commenced voting at 8 AM local time.\n\nMore than 918,000 Brazilian voters are eligible to vote outside the country this year—an increase of over 30% from the roughly 697,000 who voted abroad in 2022. Brazilians living abroad represent more than 0.5% of the total Brazilian electorate, registered across 134 countries. The United States and Portugal hold the largest Brazilian electorates abroad, with 265,000 and 134,000 voters respectively. Lisbon features the highest concentration abroad with 78,000 registered voters.\n\nVoting abroad is organized by the Regional Electoral Tribunal of the Federal District (TRE-DF) in coordination with Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Electronic voting machines were dispatched to 104 countries to facilitate overseas voting, with Russia as the sole exception due to logistical difficulties. Polling stations are set up in embassies, consulates, or designated locations, requiring a minimum of 30 eligible voters to establish a voting section.\n\nUnlike elections within Brazil, expatriates are only voting for president and vice president. The Brazilian consul in Tokyo expressed optimism for a smooth voting process in Japan despite large voter numbers and the need to manage queues efficiently. Time zone differences mean overseas voting begins earlier than in Brazil, where polls will open at 8 AM on October 4.\n\nHowever, the overseas electorate faces challenges with voter turnout. Despite the increased number of registrants, there remains a high rate of abstention; in 2022, 51% of registered Brazilians abroad did not vote, echoing abstention rates that have historically hovered above half in recent elections.