Brazil is currently conducting the first round of its 2026 presidential election, with incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva seeking re-election against Flávio Bolsonaro. Flávio Bolsonaro is the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently incarcerated due to his involvement in a plot to stage a military coup.

The election process in Brazil is direct, meaning every vote carries equal weight without the use of an electoral college system. To secure the presidency in this first round, a candidate must receive more than 50% of the valid votes cast. If no candidate reaches this threshold, the two leading contenders will advance to a second-round runoff election, which is scheduled to take place three weeks after the initial vote. Polls are set to close at 17:00 BRT.

While the process is straightforward, the political context remains highly charged given the legal status of the former president and the dynastic nature of the opposition candidacy. The outcome of this first round will determine whether the country moves immediately toward a new administration or enters a secondary phase of campaigning.