# Religious and demographic trends in Brazilian elections > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/religious-and-demographic-trends-in-brazilian-elections > Updated: 2026-08-25T20:58:22.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 2. Recent surveys regarding the Brazilian electoral landscape reveal conflicting perspectives on the role of religion in politics. An initial study by the Socio-Anthropological Laboratory of Politics, Art, and Religion (LePar) at Fluminense Federal University found that 81% of Brazilians consider it fundamental for political candidates to believe in God, with 54% supporting the idea that the Brazilian State should not be secular. However, subsequent data from a PoderData/Aya survey presents a different view, indicating that 63% of the electorate does not consider a candidate's religion a decisive factor in their vote, and 68% believe candidates should not use religious faith to formulate government programs. The data also highlights political divides, noting that 42% of supporters of Senator Flávio Bolsonaro view religion as an important voting factor, compared to 26% of supporters of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Additionally, recent election data shows a decline in female political representation. There has been a 24% drop in female candidacies for the Chamber of Deputies compared to 2022, while women represent only 22% of official candidates for the Senate. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-25: Brazil election data shows religious and gender shifts New data on Brazilian elections shows 63% of voters do not prioritize religion in candidates, while female representation in federal legislative candidacies faces a significant decline. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazil-election-data-shows-religious-and-gender-shifts ### 2026-08-20: Brazil survey: 81% of citizens want candidates to believe in God A LePar/UFF survey shows 81% of Brazilians believe political candidates should believe in God, with 54% supporting a non-secular state. 13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazil-survey-81-of-voters-want-candidates-who-believe-in-god --- Cite as: Religious and demographic trends in Brazilian elections. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/religious-and-demographic-trends-in-brazilian-elections