TSE ruling on gender quota fraud may change Guarapari City Council

A decision by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) may alter the composition of the Guarapari City Council in Espírito Santo. Minister Dias Toffoli recognized gender quota fraud within the Democracia Cristã (DC) party's slate during the 2024 elections.

The ruling annuls the votes received by the DC party and revokes the diplomas of its elected candidates. The Electoral Court must now recalculate the distribution of seats, though it is not yet certain which council members will gain or lose positions. Currently, the council has 17 members, including two from the DC.

The case originated from an appeal regarding two female candidacies in the party's proportional slate. While the Regional Electoral Court of Espírito Santo (TRE-ES) previously found insufficient evidence of fraud, the TSE noted irregularities such as a candidate's resignation without replacement, a candidate receiving only 15 votes, and a lack of effective campaign activities.