The articles written by the PÚBLICO Brasil team are written in the variant of the Portuguese language used in Brazil.
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Unlike most democracies, in Brazil, voting is mandatory. The legislation provides for the duty for those between 18 and 70 years of age. This means that anyone who does not vote or does not justify their absence from the polls risks suffering penalties. Brazil will have municipal elections on October 6, in the first round.
Without the electoral situation being up to date, citizens may be left without access to State services. You cannot, for example, renew your passport, obtain or regularize your Individual Taxpayer Registry (CPF), enroll in Brazilian educational institutions or take up public office. And, if he is a public servant, he no longer receives his salary.
But there are exceptions. Voting is not mandatory for anyone between 16 and 18 years of age or for those over 70 years of age. And, in municipal elections, anyone who has an electoral certificate from Brasília does not vote, because the Federal District does not have a municipal election.
For those who live in Portugal and have transferred their voter registration card to the country, elections are held every four years. The only election in which he participates is for President of the Republic. Therefore, the next votes in Portugal will be in 2026.
However, those who did not transfer the title need to justify why they will not vote in the municipal elections in two weeks. Successive absences from the polls without justification result in sanctions.
Regularize the situation
Anyone who did not vote in the elections has a period of 60 days to justify it. This can be done in site do Superior Electoral Court (TSE)using the e-Titulo appor submit the Electoral Justification Request to one of Brazil’s consulates, which functions as an electoral court. It is a similar process to that of those in Brazil, outside the city where they have their voter registration card.
A justification is required for each electoral act. In the case of two-round elections, such as the 2022 presidential elections, the voter who did not vote must justify it twice.
If you miss the justification period, a fine will be imposed, which can range from R$ 3,51 a R$ 35,13 due to missing votes. And, if you fail to vote and fail to justify it in consecutive elections, your name may be removed from the electoral roll, with all the consequences of not voting.
There are some cases where voting is not necessary. People with special needs and citizens with mental disabilities can be free from punishment. To do this, these citizens or their representatives must request the non-application of legal sanctions.
