How Do Elections Work in Brazil? Government, Voting & Essential Portuguese
Brazilian culture + practical Portuguese
Understand the Ballot, the Offices and the Portuguese Brazilians Use to Talk About Elections
If you spend time with Brazilians during an election year, words such as segundo turno, deputado, vereador, urna and votos válidos suddenly appear everywhere. Understanding them requires more than translation: Brazil elects different offices at different levels of government and uses two electoral systems. This guide explains the structure while teaching the language that makes Brazilian political conversations easier to follow.
The first thing to understand
Why Does Brazil Seem to Have Elections Every Two Years?
Because two different national election cycles alternate.
Eleições gerais — general elections
Held every four years for national and state-level offices: presidente, governador, senador, deputado federal and deputado estadual or distrital.
Eleições municipais — municipal elections
Also held every four years, but halfway between general elections. Voters choose prefeito, vice-prefeito and vereador.
That alternating schedule creates the familiar two-year rhythm. Brazil had municipal elections in 2024, general elections in 2026, and the next regular municipal elections come in 2028. The historical record maintained by Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court shows this alternating pattern across recent decades. [3]
Government structure
Before the Ballot: Federal, State and Municipal Government
Brazil is a federation. For election learners, the simplest practical map is to think in three levels: federal, state and municipal. The Federal District has a special constitutional structure and combines characteristics that elsewhere belong to states and municipalities. [1]
Federal
União / governo federal
National institutions, including the presidency and National Congress.
State
estado / governo estadual
Each state has a governor and a legislative assembly.
Municipal
município / prefeitura / Câmara Municipal
The mayor heads the municipal executive; city councilors make up the municipal legislature.
Who is being elected?
The Main Elected Offices in Brazil
The titles are easy to translate badly because not every Brazilian office has an exact one-to-one equivalent in another country. The safest approach is to learn what each office does in Brazil.
The president heads the federal Executive Branch. Presidential elections are nationwide and use the majoritarian system with a possible runoff. The presidential term is four years. [1]
Brazil’s Senate represents the states and the Federal District. Each state and the DF elect three senators, giving the Senate 81 seats. Senators serve eight-year terms, and seats are renewed every four years in alternating cycles of one-third and two-thirds. The Senate is elected by the majoritarian system. [4]
Federal deputies sit in the Câmara dos Deputados, the lower house of Brazil’s National Congress. They represent the population and serve four-year terms. Their core work includes legislating, overseeing the Executive and dealing with the federal budget. They are elected through the proportional system. [5]
State deputies sit in state legislative assemblies. In the Federal District, the corresponding office is deputado distrital. These representatives serve four-year terms and are also chosen by proportional voting. [1]
The mayor is the head of the municipal Executive Branch and administers the municipality. Responsibilities at the municipal level include local public services, urban administration, municipal programs and execution of the local budget within the legal division of responsibilities among governments. [6]
A vereador is a member of the Câmara Municipal. Councilors propose and vote on municipal legislation and oversee the municipal executive, including the use of public resources. They are elected by proportional voting for four-year terms. [6]
For U.S.-based learners
Brazil vs. the United States: Similar Titles, Different Institutions
Comparisons can help, but they should be treated as functional approximations, not exact translations. The two countries have different constitutional and electoral structures.
| Brazil | Useful U.S. comparison | Important difference |
|---|---|---|
| Presidente | U.S. President | Both head the federal executive, but the electoral mechanisms are different. |
| Governador | State governor | This is one of the closest functional comparisons. |
| Senador | U.S. Senator | Brazil has 3 senators per state/DF with 8-year terms; the U.S. has 2 per state with 6-year terms. [4][10] |
| Deputado Federal | U.S. Representative, approximately | Both sit in the lower house of a bicameral national legislature, but Brazil elects deputies through a party-based proportional system; U.S. House members represent congressional districts and serve 2-year terms. [5][11] |
| Prefeito | Mayor | Closest everyday translation, though local-government powers vary between countries. |
| Vereador | City council member | A useful functional comparison; local government structures in the U.S. vary considerably by state and municipality. |
The central electoral distinction
Brazil Uses Two Main Electoral Systems: Majoritário and Proporcional
Majoritarian system
Used for president, governor, mayor and senator. The winning rule depends on the office: some require an absolute majority of valid votes and can go to a second round; senators and mayors in smaller municipalities are decided by relative majority. [2]
Proportional system
Used for federal deputies, state/district deputies and city councilors. Votes help determine how many seats each party or federation receives; candidates then fill those seats according to the applicable electoral rules. [7]
Why can a highly voted candidate lose while another candidate wins?
Because legislative elections for deputies and councilors are not simply a nationwide or citywide ranking of individual candidates. Brazil’s proportional system combines votes for candidates and votes for parties/federations. The quociente eleitoral (electoral quotient), quociente partidário (party quotient), candidate vote thresholds and rules for remaining seats all help determine the final distribution. [7]
A phrase you hear constantly
Primeiro Turno and Segundo Turno: First Round and Runoff
For president and governors, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of valid votes to win in the first round. If nobody reaches that threshold, the two leading candidates compete in a second round. The same two-round rule applies to mayoral elections in municipalities with more than 200,000 voters. Senators and mayors in municipalities with smaller electorates do not have a second-round mechanism. [2]
primeiro turno
first round
A eleição foi decidida no primeiro turno.
The election was decided in the first round.
segundo turno
second round / runoff
Os dois candidatos passaram para o segundo turno.
The two candidates advanced to the runoff.
The phrase votos válidos matters here. For the majority calculation, blank and null votes are excluded. [8]
A major difference for many foreigners
Is Voting Mandatory in Brazil?
For literate Brazilian citizens, voting and electoral registration are compulsory from age 18 through age 70. Voting is optional for people aged 16 or 17, people over 70, and people who are illiterate. [9]
voto obrigatório
compulsory voting
voto facultativo
optional voting
eleitor / eleitora
voter
This is one reason election-day vocabulary can be especially visible in everyday Brazilian life. Voting is not only a media event; for a large share of adult citizens, participation in the electoral process is a legal civic obligation.
One of Brazil’s most recognizable election objects
The Urna Eletrônica: Brazil’s Electronic Voting Machine
Brazil began using electronic voting machines in 1996. That year, roughly one-third of the electorate voted electronically. The system expanded in 1998, and by the 2000 municipal elections electronic voting had been implemented nationwide for the electorate. [12]
The keypad itself teaches useful Portuguese:
CONFIRMA
confirm
CORRIGE
correct / clear the entry
BRANCO
blank vote
Two terms that cause confusion
Voto em Branco vs. Voto Nulo
A voto em branco is recorded by choosing the machine’s blank-vote option and confirming. A voto nulo is recorded when the voter enters a number that does not correspond to a valid candidacy or party and confirms it. Under current rules, neither is counted as a valid vote for determining the result, and neither is transferred to another candidate or party. [8]
votar em branco
to cast a blank vote
anular o voto / votar nulo
to cast a null/invalid vote intentionally
A short historical map
Brazilian Elections Did Not Always Work This Way
Today’s electoral system is the result of major institutional changes across the twentieth century. A few milestones help put the vocabulary and institutions in context.
The Electoral Code of 1932 created Brazil’s Electoral Justice system and introduced major changes including the secret ballot, women’s voting rights and proportional representation. [13]
The elections for the Constituent Assembly were the first organized under the new system. [13]
The TSE’s historical chronology records indirect presidential elections during the military regime and again in 1985 during the transition period. [3]
The 1988 Constitution established today’s framework of universal suffrage and direct, secret voting, and Brazil held a direct presidential election in 1989. [1][3]
Electronic voting began in part of the country in 1996 and reached the entire electorate by 2000. [12]
Brazil + Portuguese
Essential Portuguese for Understanding Brazilian Elections
You do not need to memorize dozens of political terms at once. Start with the words that explain the structure you have just learned.
| Portuguese | Natural English | Example in context |
|---|---|---|
| eleição | election | A eleição é em outubro. |
| eleitor / eleitora | voter | O eleitor escolhe seus representantes. |
| candidato / candidata | candidate | Há vários candidatos ao cargo. |
| cargo | office / position | Qual cargo está em disputa? |
| mandato | term of office | O mandato dura quatro anos. |
| primeiro turno | first round | Ninguém venceu no primeiro turno. |
| segundo turno | runoff / second round | Vai ter segundo turno. |
| votos válidos | valid votes | Os votos brancos e nulos não entram nessa conta. |
| urna eletrônica | electronic voting machine | O Brasil usa urna eletrônica. |
| apuração | vote count / tabulation | A apuração começou depois da votação. |
| eleito / eleita | elected | Ela foi eleita prefeita. |
| reeleição | reelection | Ele concorre à reeleição. |
A separate TBW guide can go much deeper into how Brazilians actually talk during election season: phrases such as Você vai votar em quem?, passou para o segundo turno, está na frente, caiu nas pesquisas, foi eleito and ganhou a eleição. This page stays focused on understanding the system itself.
Frequently asked questions
Brazilian Elections: FAQ
How often are elections held in Brazil?
Regular nationwide elections occur every two years because general elections and municipal elections alternate. Each cycle itself is four years: president/governors/deputies are elected in general elections, while mayors and city councilors are elected two years later in municipal elections. Senators serve eight-year terms with staggered renewal.
Does Brazil elect the president directly?
Yes. Voters cast votes directly for presidential tickets. To win in the first round, a candidate must obtain an absolute majority of valid votes. Otherwise, the two most-voted candidates advance to a runoff.
Is voting compulsory in Brazil?
It is compulsory for literate Brazilian citizens from age 18 through 70. It is optional for 16- and 17-year-olds, people over 70, and people who are illiterate.
What is the difference between a senator and a federal deputy in Brazil?
Senators represent the states and Federal District equally: each elects three senators, each serving an eight-year term. Federal deputies represent the population in the Chamber of Deputies and serve four-year terms. Senators are elected by a majoritarian system; federal deputies by the proportional system.
What is a vereador?
A vereador is a member of a municipal legislative chamber. “City council member” or “municipal councilor” is usually the clearest functional translation in English.
Can a Brazilian presidential election have a second round?
Yes. If no presidential candidate receives an absolute majority of valid votes in the first round, the two leading candidates compete in a second round. Governors follow the same rule, as do mayors in municipalities with more than 200,000 voters.
Do blank or null votes go to the winning candidate?
No. Blank and null votes are not counted as valid votes and are not transferred to a candidate or party.
When did Brazil begin electronic voting?
Electronic voting began in 1996 for part of the electorate, expanded in 1998 and reached the full electorate in the 2000 municipal elections.
Sources & further reading
Institutional Sources Used for This Guide
- Tribunal Superior Eleitoral — Constituição Federal de 1988. Constitutional framework for voting rights, elected offices, legislative representation and direct elections.
- TSE — Sistema eleitoral majoritário. Majority rules, valid votes and second-round rules by office.
- TSE — Cronologia das eleições. Historical election calendar, elected offices and direct/indirect elections from 1932 onward.
- Senado Federal — Afinal, o que faz um senador? Senate representation, number of senators and eight-year terms.
- Câmara dos Deputados — O que faz um deputado federal. Legislative, oversight and budget functions of federal deputies.
- TSE — Funções do prefeito e do vereador. Municipal executive and legislative responsibilities.
- TSE — Sistema proporcional. Electoral quotient, party quotient, candidate votes and seat allocation.
- TSE — Votos nulos e brancos. How blank/null votes are recorded and why they are excluded from valid-vote totals.
- TSE — Título Eleitoral FAQ. Rules for compulsory and optional voting by age and literacy status.
- U.S. Senate — Term Length. U.S. senators serve six-year terms; used only for the institutional comparison.
- U.S. House of Representatives — House Overview. U.S. representatives serve two-year terms and represent congressional districts; used only for the comparison table.
- TSE — Evolução da urna eletrônica. Electronic voting rollout beginning in 1996 and nationwide implementation by 2000.
- TSE — Primeiras eleições organizadas pela Justiça Eleitoral. The 1932 Electoral Code, Electoral Justice, secret ballot, women’s suffrage and proportional representation.
Culture becomes easier when the language does
Learn the Portuguese Behind Real Brazilian Conversations.
Elections are only one example of how language and Brazilian life overlap. Conversational in 20 Weeks helps you move beyond isolated vocabulary and understand the Portuguese people actually use when they talk about everyday life, family, culture, opinions and what is happening around them.
