Over 500 thousand Brazilians may vote out of country

Altogether, 500,727 Brazilian nationals will be able to vote in 171 cities out overseas. The biggest electoral precinct is reported to be Boston, in the US, where 46 voting machines are to be sent. Second comes Miami, with 45. The US, Japan, and Portugal are the countries with the highest number of Brazilian electors.

Figures released by electoral authorities also reveal that 58.4 percent of Brazilian voters overseas are women, 41.6 percent men. The prevalent age group is formed by people aged 35–39.

Taking education into account, 34.26 percent of Brazilians eligible to vote hold a university degree; 28.51 percent have finished high school; 13.46 percent have gone to university but not graduated.

The biggest electoral precinct is reported to be Boston, in the US, where 46 voting machines are to be sent - José Cruz/Agência Brasil

Security

Ricardo Negrão, secretariat for technology with the Regional Electoral Court of the Federal District (TRE-DF), said that the voting machines are carefully inspected in four stages before they are sealed. Challenges were posed to hackers in a bid to gauge safety.

After the challenges, Negrão reported, it was discovered that when keys are pressed, a mechanic frequency is produced which could be captured by powerful microphones and reveal the number typed in by voters. “The solution found was to shield the inside of these keys.”

Paper ballots

Nonetheless, paper ballots are still a reality for Brazilian electors living overseas. Of the total amount of nationals eligible to vote outside the country, 10,698 will cast the old paper ballot. The use of canvas ballot bags was the option chosen due to the difficulties arising from little access to electric energy and customs barriers to the import of electronic equipment.

The 64 ballot bags will be sent to countries in Africa, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, as well as European countries with few Brazilians. The transport of the bags will be under the responsibility of the Foreign Ministry.

With a total of 2,353 Brazilian voters apt to cast a ballot, Santa Cruz de La Sierra, Bolivia, is the city with the largest number of electors among those with no voting machines.

Wherever ballot bags will be used, the vote count will be a task of the embassies, with ambassadors serving as electoral judges.