Tocantins voters face criminal charges for sharing votes on social media

Three voters in the Brazilian municipalities of Formoso do Araguaia and Dueré are facing criminal representations following the first round of the 2026 elections. The Electoral Public Ministry alleges that the individuals violated vote secrecy by using mobile phones to photograph or film their voting process and subsequently sharing the content on social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Instagram.

In Formoso do Araguaia, two women are under investigation. One reportedly shared a video of her presidential vote alongside images of personal documents, while the other posted a photo of the electronic voting machine screen with the caption ‘Meu presidente’. In Dueré, a voter is accused of recording and distributing videos and photos of his vote on social media.

Electoral Prosecutor Jorge José Maria Neto filed the representations, citing potential violations of Article 312 of the Electoral Code. Under this law, violating or attempting to violate the secrecy of the vote can result in a prison sentence of up to two years. Brazilian electoral legislation strictly prohibits voters from entering voting booths with mobile phones, cameras, or any other recording equipment, regardless of whether the devices are turned off.