University of Lisbon hosts largest overseas polling site for 2026 Brazilian elections

As the 2026 Brazilian elections approach, data from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) highlights significant trends regarding voter distribution and accessibility. Approximately 918,876 Brazilians living abroad are eligible to vote, representing a 358% increase since 2010. These voters, distributed across 134 countries, can only vote for President and Vice-President. The largest overseas polling center is the University of Lisbon in Portugal, which expects 78,833 voters. Other major international hubs include the Institute of Engineering (Isep) in Porto, Portugal, and Miami Dade College in the United States.

In contrast, the largest polling site within Brazil is the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP), with 17,639 voters.

Logistical challenges remain a critical issue for domestic participation. In remote areas, such as the community of Ramal dos Três in Óbidos, Pará, voters face long journeys on difficult roads to reach polling stations. Research indicates that voter abstention increases by 7 percentage points in municipalities where polling locations are more than 40 kilometers away from residents. Additionally, there is growing representation from indigenous populations, with 196 indigenous candidacies registered for the upcoming elections.