Brazil top electoral court head talks about incident-free elections

Justice Rosa Weber, head of Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court, stressed what she described as “absolute normality” in the first round of the general elections in the country. When asked whether she was concerned about the reliability of using voting machines, she reiterated that, if requested, electoral authorities can investigate and fix any flaws.

“When will electoral authorities intervene? Whenever a formal complaint is filed, in which case we may carry out a rigorous inquiry,” she said in a press conference Sunday (Oct. 7) after the outcome of the first round was determined.

Bolsonaro

When asked about the statements made by Jair Bolsonaro, of the Liberal Social Party (PSL), who said he would have won outright if it were not for his lack of “confidence in electronic voting.” Weber said she cannot “avoid” statements of this kind.

“We’re always concerned, but we have to cope with ease. That’s what’s good about a democracy governed by the rule of law—people may express themselves, it’s our richness, we live in a democracy,” said the chief justice.

Falsehoods

Also at the conference was Public Security Minister Raul Jungmann, who said that false information aimed at harming the electoral process will be investigated, and punishments handed down.

“Those attempting to discredit, demoralize, or induce the possibility of fraud in the system were brought under scrutiny or are being scrutinized—and will be charged and punished,” he said.

Jungmann went on to say that no evidence has been found by the police that any fraud allegation was accurate.