Brazil's Top Court Extends Voting to 7 PM; Count Paused

Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin extended voting hours nationwide until 7 PM on election day, citing reduced public transportation service in several regions, particularly São Paulo and Bahia. The decision was announced two minutes before polls were originally set to close. Vote counting has already begun, but the Superior Electoral Court paused the tabulation of results due to Zanin's ruling. In Salvador, the regional electoral court ordered the arrest of the city's mobility secretary, who is in Paris, after severe bus service disruptions. São Paulo terminals saw roughly 30% fewer buses despite a court order for full fleet operation. The extension was requested by President Lula's re-election coalition, which argued that insufficient public transit in three Bahia municipalities prevented voters from reaching polling stations. Zanin ordered all electoral sections nationwide to remain open for two additional hours, with the TSE responsible for implementing the order.