Brazilian voters are casting their ballots today in the first round of the country's presidential election, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva seeking another term against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
Flávio Bolsonaro is the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was Lula's main rival in the 2022 presidential election. The younger Bolsonaro is now seeking to carry his family's political movement into the presidency. (reuters.com)
More than 158.7 million Brazilians are registered to vote in this year's general election. Polling stations opened at 8am and are scheduled to close at 5pm Brasília time. (tse.jus.br)
The presidential contest is taking place alongside elections for governors, senators and members of the federal and state legislatures. (tse.jus.br)
The campaign has been marked by strong political divisions, with economic conditions, crime, corruption allegations and Brazil's international relationships among the issues shaping the debate. Reuters reports that both Lula and Flávio have sought to portray the election as a major choice over the country's future direction. (reuters.com)
Jair Bolsonaro's political legacy remains central to the campaign. He is currently under house arrest after being convicted over an attempt to overturn the 2022 election result. Flávio Bolsonaro has campaigned on seeking an amnesty for his father. (reuters.com)
If no presidential candidate receives more than 50% of valid votes, Brazil's electoral rules provide for a second round between the two leading candidates on 25 October. (tse.jus.br)
The election is being closely watched across Latin America because of Brazil's economic weight and its role in regional and international affairs.