Brazil elections live: Lula faces Bolsonaro in close presidential race

On Sunday, millions of Brazilians will head to the polls to vote in a presidential election dominated by two main contenders: incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Only these two candidates are expected to have a realistic chance of becoming Brazil's next head of state. Should no candidate secure over 50% of the vote, the top two will face off in a runoff on October 25th.

Lula, currently 80 years old, is embarking on his seventh presidential run. Bolsonaro, at 45, is making his first bid for the presidency, aiming to restore his family's political lineage after his father governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022. The two political figures represent contrasting ideologies and stances on various issues, such as tackling organized crime, Brazil's relations with the U.S., and environmental preservation.

Brazil holds general elections every four years, with voting being mandatory. Those who fail to vote without a valid reason may face a small fine. This year, voters will elect a president, state and federal representatives, governors, and some senators. Additionally, elections for mayors and city councilors occur every four years, but at different intervals. Almost 160 million eligible voters will cast their ballots using electronic voting machines to select their preferred candidates.

Brazil transitioned to electronic voting machines in the 1990s to curb fraud, which had been rampant in local elections prior to that. The nation did not hold direct presidential elections between 1960 and 1989, a period that encompassed military rule from 1964 to 1985. Results are typically announced shortly after voting ends. Jair Bolsonaro has previously expressed skepticism regarding Brazil's electronic voting system, despite no significant fraud cases being recorded.

Lula, a former union leader who lost a finger in a factory accident when he was 19, has garnered both fervent support and criticism throughout his political career. He spent over a year in prison on corruption convictions, but these were later overturned, allowing him to secure a third non-consecutive term in 2022. While still highly popular, Lula's approval ratings have been as low as 24% during his current term, potentially impacting his electoral prospects.

On the other hand, Senator Bolsonaro, the frontrunner, is set to continue his father's conservative policies. His campaign hinges on tough security measures, including the construction of megaprisons modeled after El Salvador, the designation of transnational gangs as terrorist organizations, and the lowering of the age for adult trials to 16.

However, Bolsonaro has been accused of human-caused climate change denial and accepting millions of dollars to produce a film about his father's life, leading to a corruption investigation. Despite these allegations, Bolsonaro maintains that he will uphold Brazilian sovereignty and protect the Amazon rainforest.