Brazil's second-round voter abstention drops to record low of 19.22%

Brazil's 2026 presidential election saw voter abstention fall to 19.22% in the second round on Sunday, down from 21.08% in the first round, with about 30.5 million voters absent—a drop of nearly 3 million from 33.47 million. The decline marks a historic shift, as turnout rose from 125.28 million to 128.2 million voters. Previously, abstention typically increased between rounds, as seen in 2018, 2014, and 2010, though it also fell slightly in 2022. Blank and null votes also decreased, falling from 5.97 million in the first round to 4.15 million in the second, a 30.5% reduction.