Brazil presidential runoff voting extended by two hours amid transport disruptions

Brazil's Supreme Court justice Cristiano Zanin granted a request from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s campaign to extend voting in the presidential runoff by two hours, moving the closing time from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Brasília time). The extension follows allegations that public-transport services were severely reduced in at least ten states, potentially preventing voters who rely on buses from reaching polling stations.

Lula’s campaign argued that authorities in nine states were restricting access to free public transport required by law on election day. The campaign said that in São Paulo only about 60 % of buses were operating, and in Salvador, the capital of Bahia, roughly half of the fleet was running.

"Something abominable is happening," Lula told reporters, adding that voters should not be denied their right to cast a ballot.

Local electoral courts ordered the immediate restoration of the full bus fleet and issued an arrest warrant for municipal transport secretary Pablo Souza on suspicion of an electoral offence, though the warrant could not be executed because Souza is abroad.

Election officials reported confusion at polling stations after the ruling was issued minutes before the scheduled close. Some electronic voting machines had already finalized results, while others remained open and continued to accept votes.

The electoral court had begun publishing preliminary results, showing Lula with 57.66 % of the 0.25 % of votes tallied and Bolsonaro with 42.34 %. Counting and result publication were suspended pending the extension and are expected to resume after 7 p.m.

Flávio Bolsonaro, a senator and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, also filed requests for extensions in several southern states, citing heavy rain that impeded voter turnout.