Brazil's top court extends runoff voting to 7 PM nationwide
Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ordered the extension of Brazil's second-round election voting until 7 PM in all states on Sunday, October 25, 2026, overriding the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) and granting a request from President Lula's campaign. Zanin, appointed by Lula, justified the decision by citing both campaigns' claims of voter transport problems, specifying it applies only to polling stations that had not yet closed. TSE President Nunes Marques instructed open sections to comply with the judicial order. Both the PT and PL campaigns had filed separate requests: Lula's party sought extensions in regions with drastic public transport reductions, while Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign requested extensions in cities affected by heavy rains across five states.