Flavio Bolsonaro (L), presidential candidate of Brazil's Liberal Party, gestures after casting his ballot at a polling station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Oct. 4, 2026. Voting in the first round of Brazil's 2026 presidential election officially began at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Sunday, with polling stations across the country scheduled to close at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT). Initial results are expected to be announced within a few hours after the polls close. (Xinhua/Jin Haoyuan)
BRASILIA, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Voting in the first round of Brazil's 2026 presidential election officially began at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Sunday, with polling stations across the country scheduled to close at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT).
Initial results are expected to be announced within a few hours after the polls close.
Recent opinion polls showed incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of the ruling Workers' Party and Flavio Bolsonaro, the presidential candidate of Brazil's Liberal Party and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, leading the race with a significant advantage over other candidates. ■
Flavio Bolsonaro (R), presidential candidate of Brazil's Liberal Party, poses for photos with his wife after casting his ballot at a polling station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Oct. 4, 2026. Voting in the first round of Brazil's 2026 presidential election officially began at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Sunday, with polling stations across the country scheduled to close at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT).Initial results are expected to be announced within a few hours after the polls close. (Xinhua/Jin Haoyuan)
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (R), presidential candidate of Brazil's ruling Workers' Party, displays a national flag of Brazil after casting his ballot at a polling station in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, Oct. 4, 2026. Voting in the first round of Brazil's 2026 presidential election officially began at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Sunday, with polling stations across the country scheduled to close at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT).Initial results are expected to be announced within a few hours after the polls close. (Photo by Paulo Lopes/Xinhua)
Flavio Bolsonaro (2nd L), presidential candidate of Brazil's Liberal Party, is seen with his wife (1st L) at a polling station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Oct. 4, 2026. Voting in the first round of Brazil's 2026 presidential election officially began at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Sunday, with polling stations across the country scheduled to close at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT).Initial results are expected to be announced within a few hours after the polls close. (Xinhua/Jin Haoyuan)
A voter verifies her identity at a polling station in Brasilia, Brazil, Oct. 4, 2026. Voting in the first round of Brazil's 2026 presidential election officially began at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Sunday, with polling stations across the country scheduled to close at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT).Initial results are expected to be announced within a few hours after the polls close. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, presidential candidate of Brazil's ruling Workers' Party, displays a national flag of Brazil after casting his ballot at a polling station in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, Oct. 4, 2026. Voting in the first round of Brazil's 2026 presidential election officially began at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Sunday, with polling stations across the country scheduled to close at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT).Initial results are expected to be announced within a few hours after the polls close. (Photo by Paulo Lopes/Xinhua)
Flavio Bolsonaro (R), presidential candidate of Brazil's Liberal Party, poses for photos with his wife after casting his ballot at a polling station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Oct. 4, 2026. Voting in the first round of Brazil's 2026 presidential election officially began at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Sunday, with polling stations across the country scheduled to close at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT).Initial results are expected to be announced within a few hours after the polls close. (Xinhua/Jin Haoyuan)
A voter is seen after casting his ballot at a polling station in Brasilia, Brazil, Oct. 4, 2026. Voting in the first round of Brazil's 2026 presidential election officially began at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Sunday, with polling stations across the country scheduled to close at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT).Initial results are expected to be announced within a few hours after the polls close. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)
A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Brasilia, Brazil, Oct. 4, 2026. Voting in the first round of Brazil's 2026 presidential election officially began at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Sunday, with polling stations across the country scheduled to close at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT).Initial results are expected to be announced within a few hours after the polls close. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, presidential candidate of Brazil's ruling Workers' Party, gestures after casting his ballot at a polling station in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, Oct. 4, 2026. Voting in the first round of Brazil's 2026 presidential election officially began at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Sunday, with polling stations across the country scheduled to close at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT).Initial results are expected to be announced within a few hours after the polls close. (Photo by Paulo Lopes/Xinhua)
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, presidential candidate of Brazil's ruling Workers' Party, leaves after casting his ballot at a polling station in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, Oct. 4, 2026. Voting in the first round of Brazil's 2026 presidential election officially began at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Sunday, with polling stations across the country scheduled to close at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT).Initial results are expected to be announced within a few hours after the polls close. (Photo by Paulo Lopes/Xinhua)
A staff member guides voters at a polling station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Oct. 4, 2026. Voting in the first round of Brazil's 2026 presidential election officially began at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Sunday, with polling stations across the country scheduled to close at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT).Initial results are expected to be announced within a few hours after the polls close. (Xinhua/Jin Haoyuan)
Flavio Bolsonaro (C), presidential candidate of Brazil's Liberal Party, leaves after casting his ballot at a polling station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Oct. 4, 2026. Voting in the first round of Brazil's 2026 presidential election officially began at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Sunday, with polling stations across the country scheduled to close at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT).Initial results are expected to be announced within a few hours after the polls close. (Xinhua/Jin Haoyuan)
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, presidential candidate of Brazil's ruling Workers' Party, casts his ballot at a polling station in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, Oct. 4, 2026. Voting in the first round of Brazil's 2026 presidential election officially began at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) on Sunday, with polling stations across the country scheduled to close at 5 p.m. (0800 GMT).Initial results are expected to be announced within a few hours after the polls close. (Photo by Paulo Lopes/Xinhua)
