Brazilian teenager launches platform to educate young voters

Maurício Melzer, a 16-year-old from São Paulo, has developed a digital platform called votae.org to assist young voters in Brazil. The initiative aims to simplify the complexities of the political system and the electoral process for the 19.2 million voters aged 16 to 24, who represent approximately 12% of the Brazilian electorate.

The platform provides accessible information regarding the responsibilities of various political offices, including President, Governor, Senator, and Deputies. By utilizing data from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), the site helps users differentiate between the duties of different roles to ensure campaign promises align with actual institutional powers.

Additionally, the project addresses the risks of disinformation and the use of artificial intelligence in manipulating media. It encourages young citizens to verify sources and research candidates' official trajectories rather than relying solely on short videos or memes. Vitor Amaral, communication secretary for the Regional Electoral Court of São Paulo (TRE-SP), noted the importance of engaging this digitally active demographic in the democratic process.