Brazil election data shows religious and gender shifts

Recent data regarding the upcoming Brazilian elections highlight significant shifts in voter priorities and candidate demographics. A PoderData/Aya survey of 2,400 voters indicates that 63% of the electorate does not consider a candidate's religion a decisive factor in their vote. Furthermore, 68% of respondents believe candidates should not use religious faith to formulate government programs.

The survey reveals political divides: 42% of supporters of Senator Flávio Bolsonaro view religion as an important voting factor, compared to only 26% of supporters of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Simultaneously, female political representation in Brazil faces a decline. Data shows a 24% drop in female candidacies for the Chamber of Deputies compared to 2022. In the Senate, women represent only 22% of the 315 official candidates for the 2026 race, a figure that remains stagnant compared to previous election cycles and well below the national average of 35%.