Record apathy in Brazilian elections in Portugal: 62 percent of voters did not go to the polls

The choice of Brazilians living in Portugal in the first round of the 2026 Presidential elections was Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. However, the more striking development from the election results was the high absorption rate, reaching 62 percent.

In Portugal, Lula received 52.5 percent with 26 thousand 401 votes.

Flávio Bolsonaro remained in second place with 19 thousand 412 votes and 38.6 percent.

The total share of other candidates and blank and invalid votes was approximately 9 percent.

Nearly 6 in 10 voters did not vote

More than 134 thousand Brazilian voters were registered to vote in Portugal.

However, approximately 62 percent did not go to the polls.

This ratio shows that, considering the size of the Brazilian community in Portugal, the election results only reflect the preferences of the voters who voted.

Although voter registration in Lisbon increased by 74 percent compared to the 2022 elections, participation did not increase at the same pace.

While approximately 20 thousand people voted in Lisbon in 2022, the number increased to approximately 29 thousand in 2026.

This is still a record attendance for Lisboa.

Why didn't so many people vote?

Brazil's Consul General in Lisboa, Alessandro Candeas, cited the fact that the election day combined with the October 5 national holiday in Portugal, creating a long weekend, as one of the possible reasons.

Another structural problem is the distance to the polls.

Some voters living in different regions of Portugal have to wait a long time to vote. He has to travel distances.

However, there is no comprehensive study yet showing that the high absorption rate can be explained by a single reason.

Therefore, holiday and distance are possible factors; It should not be presented as a definitive reason.

The organization in Lisbon has been changed

Long queues in Lisbon created serious controversy in the 2022 elections.

In this election, the organization was expanded and the number of areas used within Universidade de Lisboa was increased.

Despite the large increase in the number of registered voters, it was reported that the long queues seen in the previous election were not repeated on the same scale.

Voters abroad vote only for the Presidency

The ballot for Brazilian voters registered in Portugal is more limited than the ballot paper used within Brazil.

Voters abroad vote only in the election of President and Vice President.

Therefore, the results in Portugal should not be confused with the results for other positions in the Brazilian general elections.

Next date is the second round

After the first round results, the Presidential race went to the second round.

The next critical date for Brazilian voters living in Portugal is October 25.

Whether the 62 percent abstention rate in the first round will decrease in the second round will be one of the indicators that will determine the real weight of the large Brazilian voter base in Portugal in the election.

Resources

Tribunal Superior Eleitoral — Eleições 2026

RFI — Luciana Alvarez, October 5, 2026

https://noticias.uol.com.br/ultimas-noticias/rfi/2026/10/05/lula-vence-o-primeiro-turno-em-portugal-onde-a-taxa-de-abstencao-chega-a-62.htm

Público — October 5, 2026

https://ereader.publico.pt/publico-edicao-lisboa