South Americaupdated 1h ago2 min read
Cristiano Zanin Orders Two-Hour Extension Of Brazil Runoff Voting After Transport Problems
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STF judge Cristiano Zanin extended voting by two hours nationwide due to transportation problems. The extension followed requests from both Lula and Bolsonaro campaigns citing bus transportation issues.
13 outlets told this the same way.
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Two-hour extension sparks chaos
Brazil’s Supreme Court justice Cristiano Zanin ordered polls in the presidential run-off to stay open for two more hours on Sunday after voting had officially ended at 5pm Brasilia time. The order came after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s campaign asked for an extension, citing public transport issues, and Zanin acted on a complaint about bus shortages in cities run by allies of Lula’s rival, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. Zanin later limited the order to stations whose machines had not yet been shut, so some voters could cast ballots until 7pm while others were sent home.
The extension also generated confusion at polling stations as voting hours were extended and vote-counting resumed after an interruption ordered by Electoral Justice. The Supreme Federal Court (STF) judge Cristiano Zanin authorized the extension until 7:00 p.m., and the measure was due to a reduction in bus service and other means of public transport in several regions, especially in the capitals of São Paulo and Bahia.
Campaign claims and legal fights
Lula’s campaign argued that public transportation problems affected voters reaching polling centers, and Lula emphasized, “We will not tolerate corruption, we will not tolerate bandits, we will not tolerate a corrupt mayor, we will not allow it.” Bolsonaro’s campaign also sought extra time in some areas, citing heavy rains and difficulties voters faced reaching polling stations. Edhinho Silva, chairman of Lula's Workers Party, said Lula’s camp was “already looking into taking legal action because of "interference in the electoral process,".”
Nikolas Ferreira said the Supreme Court justice’s decision was an attempt to contest Bolsonaro's likely win, and the decision set the stage for possible legal challenges no matter who wins. The Superior Electoral Court later clarified that only polling stations that had not been closed should remain open until 7 p.m. local time, after Zanin’s order caused confusion at polling stations across Brazil.
What the runoff could decide
Brazil braced Sunday for results in a tight race between Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro, with the runoff determining whether Brazil remains one of Latin America’s few leftist nations or joins a regional swing to the right. AFP reported that the counting of votes from Brazil's electronic machines restarted after a last-minute order from the Supreme Court to extend voting, after some polling stations had already closed and tallies had begun streaming. CNN said the extension came after last-minute pleas from both candidates, and it quoted Zanin and the Superior Electoral Court clarifying that only polling stations that hadn’t been closed should remain open until 7 p.m. local time.
“Results are usually available in a few hours.”
DW reported that the Supreme Court extended voting time until 7 p.m. local time, and it said the decision came amid complaints from Lula’s team that public bus services had been hampered. The BBC said early results with more than 30% of ballots counted showed Bolsonaro ahead with 50.4% to Lula’s 49.5%, as the runoff’s outcome would determine the country’s tilt to the right or the continuation of Lula’s leftist leadership.