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Brazil 2026 second-round elections see lowest voter abstention in 20 years
The second round of Brazil's 2026 general elections, held on October 25, saw a significant increase in voter turnout, resulting in the lowest abstention rate for a second round in two decades. National abstention fell to 19.22%, down from 21.08% in the first round, representing approximately 2.9 million more voters participating compared to the previous stage.
In addition to higher turnout, there was a notable decrease in blank and null votes. Blank votes dropped to 1.12% from 1.84% in the first round, while null votes fell to 2.12% from 2.93%. This trend suggests a higher concentration of voters around the final candidates, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro.
Regional data shows varied participation levels. Ceará recorded the lowest abstention rate in the country at 13.89%, while Rio Grande do Norte also saw a historic low of 16.07%. Conversely, Acre reported the highest abstention rate among Brazilian states at 26.08%. Voters residing abroad showed the highest level of absence, with an abstention rate of 58.37%.
In Amazonas, the second round saw an increase in abstention to 21.67%, despite a decrease in blank and null votes. In the state's gubernatorial race, Omar Aziz defeated Maria do Carmo with 61.42% of the valid votes.
Entities
Acre · Brazil · Electoral Justice · Flávio Bolsonaro · Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva · Omar Aziz · Tribunal Superior Eleitoral
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Acre recorded the highest abstention rate in Brazil at 26.08%. oretratodobrasil.com.br · oestadoonline.com.br · vgnews.com.br
- [● 4 SOURCES] The second round of the 2026 elections had an abstention rate of 19.22%. miltonjung.com.br · oretratodobrasil.com.br · oestadoonline.com.br · vgnews.com.br
- [● 3 SOURCES] Blank votes accounted for 1.12% of the total in the second round. oretratodobrasil.com.br · oestadoonline.com.br · vgnews.com.br
- [● 3 SOURCES] Abstention among voters abroad was 58.37%. oretratodobrasil.com.br · oestadoonline.com.br · vgnews.com.br
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Ceará had the lowest abstention rate at 13.89%. tribunadonorte.com.br
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Omar Aziz won the Amazonas governorship with 61.42% of valid votes. portaltucuma.com.br
- [● 3 SOURCES] Null votes accounted for 2.12% of the total in the second round. oretratodobrasil.com.br · oestadoonline.com.br · vgnews.com.br
- [● 4 SOURCES] Abstention in the second round is the lowest in 20 years. oretratodobrasil.com.br · www.portaldos3.com.br · oestadoonline.com.br · vgnews.com.br