Presidential elections in Brazil

Direct presidential elections are held in Brazil as part of the general elections every four years (which has been regular since 1994), typically in October. The current electoral law provides for a two-round system in which a candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote to win in the first round; if no candidate passes the 50% threshold, a run-off is held between the top two candidates.[1] Every candidate has a running mate who disputes the post of vice-president; prior to 1966, the vice-president was elected separately.

The country has held presidential elections since 1891, spanning over a period of several different republican governments and national constitutions.

This list shows the winner of the elections and the runner-up.

Old Republic

Presidentialism was introduced in Brazil after the Proclamation of the Republic in 1889, and the first election was held in 1891. According to the 1891 Constitution, the right to vote was restricted to men over 21 years old who were not illiterate, homeless or enlisted-rank soldiers.[2] The elections for president and vice-president were held separately and the same person could be a candidate for both.

Overall, only a small portion of the population voted.[3] Since coronelism was common, the colonel elites often persuaded people to vote for certain candidates.

1891

The very first president was elected indirectly by the Congress.

CandidateVotes%
Deodoro da Fonseca12955.60
Prudente de Morais9741.81
Floriano Peixoto31.29
Saldanha Marinho20.86
José Higino Duarte Pereira10.43
Total232100.00
Valid votes23299.15
Invalid/blank votes20.85
Total votes234100.00
Registered voters/turnout26887.31

1894

From 1894 on, elections were held every four years.

CandidatePartyVotes%
Prudente de MoraisFederal Republican290,88984.38
Afonso PenaMineiro Republican Party38,29111.11
Cesário AlvimMineiro Republican Party3,7191.08
Ruy BarbosaPaulista Republican Party3,7181.08
José Luiz de Almeida Couto3,1370.91
Lauro SodréFederal Republican1,8760.54
Others3,0920.90
Total344,722100.00
Valid votes344,72296.93
Invalid/blank votes10,9033.07
Total votes355,625100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,050,00033.87

1898

CandidatePartyVotes%
Campos SalesPaulista Republican Party420,28690.98
Lauro SodréFederal Republican38,9298.43
Júlio de CastilhosRio-Grandense Republican6210.13
Others2,1150.46
Total461,951100.00
Valid votes461,95198.34
Invalid/blank votes7,8121.66
Total votes469,763100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,168,00040.22

1902

CandidatePartyVotes%
Rodrigues AlvesPaulista Republican Party592,03891.69
Quintino BocaiuvaConservative Republican42,5426.59
Others11,1471.73
Total645,727100.00
Valid votes645,72797.84
Invalid/blank votes14,2732.16
Total votes660,000100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,286,00051.32

1906

CandidatePartyVotes%
Afonso PenaMineiro Republican Party288,28598.27
Lauro SodréFederal Republican4,8651.66
Ruy BarbosaPaulista Republican Party2070.07
Others
Total293,357100.00
Valid votes293,35798.13
Invalid/blank votes5,5991.87
Total votes298,956100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,357,00022.03

1910

CandidatePartyVotes%
Hermes da FonsecaConservative Republican403,86764.35
Ruy BarbosaPaulista Republican Party222,82235.51
Venceslau BrásMineiro Republican Party1520.02
Others7260.12
Total627,567100.00
Valid votes627,56798.06
Invalid/blank votes12,4331.94
Total votes640,000100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,490,00042.95

1914

CandidatePartyVotes%
Venceslau BrásMineiro Republican Party532,10791.58
Ruy BarbosaLiberal Republican47,7828.22
Pinheiro MachadoConservative Republican2220.04
Others8890.15
Total581,000100.00
Valid votes581,00098.47
Invalid/blank votes9,0001.53
Total votes590,000100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,580,00037.34

1918

CandidatePartyVotes%
Rodrigues AlvesPaulista Republican Party386,46799.03
Nilo PeçanhaFluminense Republican1,7680.45
Ruy BarbosaPaulista Republican Party1,0440.27
Others9620.25
Total390,241100.00
Valid votes390,24198.80
Invalid/blank votes4,7491.20
Total votes394,990100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,726,00022.88

1919

Since Rodrigues Alves, the President-elect, caught the Spanish flu and died before taking office, a new election was held in 1919.

CandidatePartyVotes%
Epitácio PessoaMineiro Republican Party286,37370.96
Ruy BarbosaPaulista Republican Party116,41428.85
Altino ArantesPaulista Republican Party1610.04
Others6120.15
Total403,560100.00
Valid votes403,56096.55
Invalid/blank votes14,4403.45
Total votes418,000100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,766,00023.67

1922

CandidatePartyVotes%
Artur BernardesMineiro Republican Party466,97259.46
Nilo PeçanhaFluminense Republican317,71440.46
Urbano SantosMineiro Republican Party2320.03
Others3830.05
Total785,301100.00
Valid votes785,30173.67
Invalid/blank votes280,69926.33
Total votes1,066,000100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,900,00056.11

1926

CandidatePartyVotes%
Washington LuísPaulista Republican Party688,52899.70
Assis BrasilDemocratic Republican1,1160.16
Melo VianaMineiro Republican Party3410.05
Others5980.09
Total690,583100.00
Valid votes690,58398.37
Invalid/blank votes11,4171.63
Total votes702,000100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,210,00031.76

1930

CandidatePartyVotes%
Júlio PrestesPaulista Republican Party1,091,70959.39
Getúlio VargasLiberal Alliance742,79440.41
Minervino de OliveiraWorkers and Peasants' Bloc1510.01
Others3,5500.19
Total1,838,204100.00
Valid votes1,838,20496.74
Invalid/blank votes61,9213.26
Total votes1,900,125100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,525,00075.25

With the Revolution of 1930, the country was governed until 1930 by a military triumvirate, while Getúlio Vargas was the de facto president (officially President of the Provisional Government).[4] The new Constitution predicted that the first president would be chosen by the Congress in an indirect election.

1934

CandidatePartyVotes%
Getúlio Vargas (incumbent)Independent17557.00
Borges de MedeirosRio-Grandense Republican5919.22
Others7323.78
Total307100.00

A second election was scheduled for 1938, but it did not happen due to the 1937 coup d'état, under which another Constitution was written.

Second Republic

After Vargas was forced to resign in 1945, a new state was born under a democratic constitution written in 1946. The new Constitution provided for direct elections every five years for both president and vice-president.

1945

CandidatePartyVotes%
Eurico Gaspar DutraPSD3,251,50755.39
Eduardo GomesUDN2,039,34134.74
Yedo FiúzaPCB569,8189.71
Mário Rolim TelesPAN10,0010.17
Total5,870,667100.00
Valid votes5,870,66797.74
Invalid votes65,2171.09
Blank votes70,3281.17
Total votes6,006,212100.00

1950

CandidatePartyVotes%
Getúlio VargasPTB3,879,04048.93
Eduardo GomesUDN2,342,38429.55
Cristiano MachadoPSD1,697,17321.41
João MangabeiraPSB9,4660.12
Total7,928,063100.00
Valid votes7,928,06395.68
Invalid votes146,4731.77
Blank votes211,4332.55
Total votes8,285,969100.00

1955

CandidatePartyVotes%
Juscelino KubitschekPSD3,077,41135.68
Juarez TávoraUDN2,610,46230.27
Adhemar de BarrosPSP2,222,72525.77
Plínio SalgadoPRP714,3798.28
Total8,624,977100.00
Valid votes8,624,97794.81
Invalid votes310,1853.41
Blank votes161,8521.78
Total votes9,097,014100.00

1960

CandidatePartyVotes%
Jânio QuadrosPTN5,636,82548.26
Teixeira LottPSD3,846,82532.94
Adhemar de BarrosPSP2,195,70918.80
Total11,679,359100.00
Valid votes11,679,35992.79
Invalid votes473,8063.76
Blank votes433,3913.44
Total votes12,586,556100.00

With the 1964 military coup d'état, the direct democracy ended and presidents (who were all members of military, except for the last one) were now elected by the Congress.[5] The interval between elections was irregular.

1964

CandidatePartyVotes%
Humberto Castello BrancoInd.36198.63
Juarez TávoraPDC30.82
Eurico Gaspar DutraPSD20.55
Total366100.00
Valid votes36683.56
Invalid/blank votes7216.44
Total votes438100.00
Registered voters/turnout47592.21

1966

With the two-party system, only ARENA and MDB could dispute elections. President and vice-president were now part of the same ticket. The 1966 and 1969 elections had only one candidate.

CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
Artur da Costa e SilvaPedro AleixoARENA294100.00
Total294100.00
Valid votes29487.76
Invalid/blank votes4112.24
Total votes335100.00
Registered voters/turnout47570.53

1969

First election under the 1967 Constitution.

CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
Emílio Garrastazu MédiciAugusto RademakerARENA293100.00
Total293100.00
Valid votes29379.40
Invalid/blank votes7620.60
Total votes369100.00
Registered voters/turnout47577.68

1974

CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
Ernesto GeiselAdalberto Pereira dos SantosARENA40084.03
Ulysses GuimarãesBarbosa Lima SobrinhoMDB7615.97
Total476100.00
Valid votes47695.77
Invalid/blank votes214.23
Total votes497100.00
Registered voters/turnout50398.81

1978

CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
João FigueiredoAureliano ChavesARENA35561.10
Euler Bentes MonteiroPaulo BrossardMDB22638.90
Total581100.00
Valid votes58198.14
Invalid/blank votes111.86
Total votes592100.00
Registered voters/turnout592100.00

1985

The two-party system ended in 1979 and many other parties were created. This was the last election under the military regime.

CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
Tancredo NevesJosé SarneyPMDB48072.73
Paulo MalufFlávio MarcílioPDS18027.27
Total660100.00
Valid votes66096.21
Invalid/blank votes263.79
Total votes686100.00
Registered voters/turnout69598.71

Under the current Constitution enacted in October 1988, elections are held every four years (except for the first one, which was held five years before the second to match the centenary of the Proclamation of the Republic) and citizens elect a ticket for both president and vice-president. Voting is mandatory for men and women between 18 and 70 years old who are not illiterate, and optional for people aged 16–17, over 70, and illiterates.[1]

1989

CandidateRunning matePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Fernando CollorItamar FrancoPRN20,611,03030.4835,090,20653.03
Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaJosé Paulo Bisol (PSB)PT11,622,32117.1931,075,80346.97
Leonel BrizolaFernando LyraPDT11,167,66516.51
Mário CovasAlmir GabrielPSDB7,790,38111.52
Paulo MalufBonifácio de AndradaPDS5,986,5858.85
Guilherme Afif DomingosAluísio Pimenta (PDC)PL3,272,5204.84
Ulysses GuimarãesWaldir PiresPMDB3,204,9964.74
Roberto FreireSérgio AroucaPCB769,1171.14
Aureliano ChavesCláudio LemboPFL600,8210.89
Ronaldo CaiadoCamilo Calazans (PDN)PSD488,8930.72
Affonso Camargo NetoPaiva MunizPTB379,2840.56
Enéas CarneiroLenine MadeiraPRONA360,5780.53
José Alcides de OliveiraReinau ValimPSP238,4080.35
Paulo GontijoLuís PaulinoPP198,7100.29
Zamir José TeixeiraWilliam PereiraPCN187,1640.28
Lívia Maria PioArdwin GrunewaldPN179,9250.27
Eudes Oliveira MattarDaniel Lazzeoroni JrPLP162,3430.24
Fernando GabeiraMaurício Lobo AbreuPV125,8440.19
Celso BrantEmídio NetoPMN109,9030.16
Antônio PedreiraJosé FortunatoPPB86,1070.13
Manoel HortaJorge Coelho de SáPDCdoB83,2910.12
Armando CorrêaAgostinho LinharesPMB00.00
Total67,625,886100.0066,166,009100.00
Valid votes67,625,88693.5566,166,00994.17
Invalid votes3,487,9634.823,108,2324.42
Blank votes1,176,3671.63986,4601.40
Total votes72,290,216100.0070,260,701100.00
Registered voters/turnout82,074,71888.0882,074,71885.61

1994

CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
Fernando Henrique CardosoMarco Maciel (PFL)PSDB34,314,96154.24
Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaAloizio MercadantePT17,122,12727.07
Enéas CarneiroRoberto GamaPRONA4,671,4577.38
Orestes QuérciaIris de AraújoPMDB2,772,1214.38
Leonel BrizolaDarcy RibeiroPDT2,015,8363.19
Esperidião AminGardênia GonçalvesPPR1,739,8942.75
Carlos Antônio GomesDilton SalomoniPRN387,7380.61
Hernani FortunaVítor NósseisPSC238,1970.38
Total63,262,331100.00
Valid votes63,262,33181.21
Invalid votes7,444,0179.56
Blank votes7,192,1169.23
Total votes77,898,464100.00
Registered voters/turnout94,732,41082.23

1998

CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
Fernando Henrique Cardoso (incumbent)Marco Maciel (PFL)PSDB35,936,54053.06
Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaLeonel Brizola (PDT)PT21,475,21831.71
Ciro GomesRoberto FreirePPS7,426,17010.97
Enéas CarneiroIrapuan TeixeiraPRONA1,447,0902.14
Ivan FrotaJoão Ferreira da SilvaPMN251,3370.37
Alfredo SirkisCarla RabelloPV212,9840.31
José Maria de AlmeidaJosé Galvão de LimaPSTU202,6590.30
João de DeusNanci PilarPTdoB198,9160.29
José Maria EymaelJormar AlderetePSDC171,8310.25
Thereza RuizEduardo GomesPTN166,1380.25
Sérgio BuenoRonald AzaroPSC124,6590.18
Vasco Azevedo NetoAlexandre José dos SantosPSN109,0030.16
Total67,722,545100.00
Valid votes67,722,54581.30
Invalid votes8,886,89510.67
Blank votes6,688,4038.03
Total votes83,297,843100.00
Registered voters/turnout106,101,06778.51

2002

CandidateRunning matePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaJosé Alencar (PL)PT39,455,23346.4452,793,36461.27
José SerraRita Camata (PMDB)PSDB19,705,44523.2033,370,73938.73
Anthony GarotinhoJosé Antônio AlmeidaPSB15,180,09717.87
Ciro GomesPaulo Pereira da SilvaPPS10,170,88211.97
José Maria de AlmeidaDayse OliveiraPSTU402,2360.47
Rui Costa PimentaPedro Paulo de AbreuPCO38,6190.05
Total84,952,512100.0086,164,103100.00
Valid votes84,952,51289.6186,164,10394.00
Invalid votes6,976,1077.363,772,1384.12
Blank votes2,873,7203.031,727,7601.88
Total votes94,802,339100.0091,664,001100.00
Registered voters/turnout115,254,11382.26115,254,11379.53

2006

CandidateRunning matePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (incumbent)José Alencar (PRB)PT46,662,36548.6158,298,04260.83
Geraldo AlckminJosé Jorge (PFL)PSDB39,968,36941.6437,543,17839.17
Heloísa HelenaCésar BenjaminPSOL6,575,3936.85
Cristovam BuarqueJefferson PeresPDT2,538,8442.64
Ana Maria RangelDelma Gama e NarciniPRP126,4040.13
José Maria EymaelJosé Paulo NetoPSDC63,2940.07
Luciano BivarAmérico de SouzaPSL62,0640.06
Total95,996,733100.0095,841,220100.00
Valid votes95,996,73391.5895,841,22093.96
Invalid votes5,957,5215.684,808,5534.71
Blank votes2,866,2052.731,351,4481.32
Total votes104,820,459100.00102,001,221100.00
Registered voters/turnout125,913,13483.25125,913,13481.01

2010

CandidateRunning matePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Dilma RousseffMichel Temer (PMDB)PT47,651,43446.9155,752,52956.05
José SerraIndio da Costa (DEM)PSDB33,132,28332.6143,711,38843.95
Marina SilvaGuilherme LealPV19,636,35919.33
Plínio de Arruda SampaioHamilton AssisPSOL886,8160.87
José Maria EymaelJosé Paulo NetoPSDC89,3500.09
José Maria de AlmeidaCláudia DuransPSTU84,6090.08
Levy FidelixLuiz Eduardo DuartePRTB57,9600.06
Ivan PinheiroEdmilson CostaPCB39,1360.04
Rui Costa PimentaEdson DortaPCO12,2060.01
Total101,590,153100.0099,463,917100.00
Valid votes101,590,15391.3699,463,91793.30
Invalid votes6,124,2545.514,689,4284.40
Blank votes3,479,3403.132,452,5972.30
Total votes111,193,747100.00106,605,942100.00
Registered voters/turnout135,804,43381.88135,804,43378.50

2014

CandidateRunning matePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Dilma Rousseff (incumbent)Michel Temer (PMDB)PT43,267,66841.5954,501,11851.64
Aécio NevesAloysio NunesPSDB34,897,21133.5551,041,15548.36
Marina SilvaBeto AlbuquerquePSB22,176,61921.32
Luciana GenroJorge PazPSOL1,612,1861.55
Everaldo PereiraLeonardo GadelhaPSC780,5130.75
Eduardo JorgeCélia SacramentoPV630,0990.61
Levy FidelixJosé Alves de OliveiraPRTB446,8780.43
José Maria de AlmeidaCláudia DuransPSTU91,2090.09
José Maria EymaelRoberto LopesPSDC61,2500.06
Mauro IasiSofia ManzanoPCB47,8450.05
Rui Costa PimentaRicardo MachadoPCO12,3240.01
Total104,023,802100.00105,542,273100.00
Valid votes104,023,80290.36105,542,27393.66
Invalid votes6,678,5805.805,219,7874.63
Blank votes4,420,4883.841,921,8191.71
Total votes115,122,870100.00112,683,879100.00
Registered voters/turnout142,822,04680.61142,822,04678.90

2018

CandidateRunning matePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Jair BolsonaroHamilton Mourão (PRTB)PSL49,276,99046.0357,797,84755.13
Fernando HaddadManuela d'Ávila (PCdoB)PT31,342,05129.2847,040,90644.87
Ciro GomesKátia AbreuPDT13,344,37112.47
Geraldo AlckminAna Amélia Lemos (PP)PSDB5,096,3504.76
João AmoêdoChristian LohbauerNOVO2,679,7452.50
Benevenuto DacioloSuelene BalduinoPatriota1,348,3231.26
Henrique MeirellesGermano RigottoMDB1,288,9501.20
Marina SilvaEduardo Jorge (PV)REDE1,069,5781.00
Alvaro DiasPaulo Rabello (PSC)PODE859,6010.80
Guilherme BoulosSônia GuajajaraPSOL617,1220.58
Vera Lúcia SalgadoHertz DiasPSTU55,7620.05
José Maria EymaelHelvio CostaDC41,7100.04
João Goulart FilhoLéo AlvesPPL30,1760.03
Total107,050,729100.00104,838,753100.00
Valid votes107,050,72991.21104,838,75390.43
Invalid votes7,206,2226.148,608,1057.43
Blank votes3,106,9372.652,486,5932.14
Total votes117,363,888100.00115,933,451100.00
Registered voters/turnout147,306,29579.67147,306,29478.70

2022

CandidateRunning matePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaGeraldo Alckmin (PSB)PT57,259,50448.4360,345,99950.90
Jair Bolsonaro (incumbent)Walter Braga NettoPL51,072,34543.2058,206,35449.10
Simone TebetMara Gabrilli (PSDB)MDB4,915,4234.16
Ciro GomesAna Paula MatosPDT3,599,2873.04
Soraya ThronickeMarcos CintraUNIÃO600,9550.51
Luiz Felipe d'AvilaTiago MitraudNOVO559,7080.47
Kelmon SouzaLuiz Cláudio GamonalPTB81,1290.07
Leonardo PériclesSamara MartinsUP53,5190.05
Sofia ManzanoAntônio AlvesPCB45,6200.04
Vera Lúcia SalgadoKunã Yporã TremembéPSTU25,6250.02
José Maria EymaelJoão Barbosa BravoDC16,6040.01
Total118,229,719100.00118,552,353100.00
Valid votes118,229,71995.59118,552,35395.41
Invalid votes3,487,8742.823,930,7653.16
Blank votes1,964,7791.591,769,6781.42
Total votes123,682,372100.00124,252,796100.00
Registered voters/turnout156,453,35479.05156,453,35479.42

References

  1. ^ a b Eleições 2018
  2. ^ Brazilian Constitution of Brazil, 1891. Political Database of the Americas.
  3. ^ Carvalho, José Murilo de (2001). Cidadania no Brasil: o longo caminho (11ª ed.). Rio de Janeiro, Brasil: Civilização Brasileira. p. 40. ISBN 978-85-200-0565-1.
  4. ^ "A Revolução de 1930: Principais fatos da Revolução de 1930"
  5. ^ Ato Institucional Nº 1, 9 de abril de 1964