Brazil election 2026: Lula leads in Portugal, vote count extended by two hours

Brazil's Supreme Court extended voting by two hours in Sunday's election after Lula da Silva's party requested the delay, but the closure of some polling stations has created uncertainty. Vote counting was interrupted, with Lula leading at 57.66% against Flávio Bolsonaro's 42.34% based on 0.25% of ballots tallied. The extension followed reports of public transport disruptions in ten states. Regional courts in Brasília said voting cannot resume there since the decision came after official closing time, and experts say sealed ballot boxes cannot be reopened. Bolsonaro had requested extensions only in conservative-leaning southeastern and southern states. Brazil has never before delayed voting nationally, though Lisbon extended hours in 2022 due to high turnout. Vote counting typically begins quickly after polls close, with right-leaning regions reporting first, potentially giving Bolsonaro an early lead before Lula gains ground in later counts.