1. Electoral Structure: Brazil follows a federal presidential system, with elections held at the national, state, and municipal levels. The national legislature, known as the National Congress, consists of two houses: the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate.
2. Chamber of Deputies: The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the National Congress. It has 513 members known as deputies. The number of deputies allocated to each state is based on its population size. They are elected through a proportional representation system.
3. Federal Senate: The Federal Senate is the upper house of the National Congress. It has 81 members, with each state and the Federal District electing three senators. Senators serve eight-year terms, with elections held every four years for two-thirds of the seats in each state.
4. Voting System: Brazil uses an open-list proportional representation system for its legislative elections. Voters can cast their ballots for a specific candidate or a political party. The seats are allocated based on the proportion of votes received by each party or coalition, and the candidates within the party with the most votes are elected.
5. President and Governors: The President of Brazil and state governors are elected through a two-round system. To win in the first round, a candidate must secure an absolute majority of the valid votes. If no candidate achieves this, the top two candidates proceed to a runoff election held a few weeks later.
6. Electoral Court: The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) is responsible for overseeing and administering the electoral process in Brazil. It ensures the accuracy and fairness of elections, enforces campaign finance regulations, and resolves electoral disputes.
7. Electronic Voting: Brazil has been using electronic voting machines since the 1990s. Voters use these machines to cast their votes, which are then encrypted and stored securely. The system has been praised for its efficiency and accuracy.
8. Compulsory Voting: Voting in Brazil is compulsory for citizens between the ages of 18 and 70. Failure to vote without a valid reason can result in penalties, such as restrictions on obtaining a passport or accessing certain public services.
