Brazil Supreme Court Rules Leftists May Continue Voting Until They Win
BRASÍLIA — Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled Sunday that leftist voters may cast additional ballots in any election until their preferred candidates prevail.
The decision, issued in a brief unsigned order, states that the right to vote includes the right to a conclusive result. Lower courts are instructed to keep polling places open for eligible leftist voters after initial counts are completed. Other voters are not covered by the order.
“The process ends when the outcome is achieved,” the ruling said. “Further participation is permitted until that point.”
Electoral officials said they are updating procedures to identify voters who qualify for extended access. Ballots already counted will remain in the totals. New ballots from covered voters will be added as they are cast. The court did not set a deadline for the additional voting.
A spokesman for the court declined to address how officials will determine eligibility beyond existing voter rolls. He said local election boards will apply the order according to its terms. Challenges to individual extensions may be filed but will not pause the counting of new ballots.
Opposition parties said they are reviewing the decision. One lawmaker noted that previous elections had concluded after a single round of voting. The Supreme Court did not refer to those contests in its order.
Polling places in several states remained open after the ruling was published. Officials reported that some voters had returned to cast further ballots. Results will be updated as the additional votes are received. The court said the measure applies to all future elections unless modified.
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