Brazil's election system clarifies blank/null votes and introduces dual Senate ballots for 2026

The Brazilian Electoral Justice explains that a blank vote is recorded when a voter presses the “blank” button on the electronic ballot without selecting any candidate, while a null vote occurs when an invalid number (such as “00”) is entered, signalling a protest. Both types are excluded from the total of valid votes that determine the winner, as required by the 1988 Constitution.

For the 2026 general election, voters will cast two separate votes for Senate seats because the Senate renews its composition in thirds every four years. In 2026, 54 of the 81 seats will be contested, meaning each voter must select two distinct candidates from their state. Repeating the same number invalidates the second vote. The practice has previously led to many incomplete ballots, as seen in 2018 when voters often omitted the second choice.

“Essa renovação parcial permite que o eleitorado altere de maneira significativa a composição política da Casa, mas ao mesmo tempo impede que todo o Senado seja substituído simultaneamente, preservando a continuidade dos trabalhos,” noted electoral lawyer Izabelle Paes Omena de Oliveira Lima.