The number of Brazilian voters aged 70 or over who voted in the first round of the 2026 elections increased by 43 per cent compared to 2022. This increase was calculated by the Voto 70+ movement in partnership with the Data8 research centre, based on data from the Brazilian Supreme Electoral Court.
Researchers note that this growth contributed to an increase in voter turnout in the first round of the 2026 election, which reached $125.2 million, compared to $123.7 million in 2022.
In Brazil, voting is compulsory for literate citizens aged 18 to 69 and optional for illiterate citizens, those aged 70 or over and young people aged 16 and 17.
More than half of voters aged 70 and over voted.
In the Brazilian general elections of 2022, 14.89 million voters were 70 years old or older, and 6.13 million voted. In the first round of the 2026 elections, held on 4 October, 8.77 million people of this age group voted out of a total of 17.25 million registered voters.
” This is the first time since 2014 that more than half of the voters in this age group have moved to the polls,” says Cléa Klouri, founder of the Voto 70+ movement and co-founder of Data8.
In absolute numbers, voters aged 70 or over voted 2.64 million more in 2026 than in 2022.
On the other hand, the number of electors under 70 who moved increased from 117.59 million in 2022 to 116.51 million in 2026, a decrease of 1.07 million.
This occurred even though the total number of eligible voters remained virtually unchanged, at 141.56 million in 2022 and 141.49 million in 2026.
A decisive electorate
In an interview Agência Brasil Cléa Klouri points out that this electoral base becomes even more important in a tight race and could decide on the outcome of the election.
” It is important to highlight the power they have to reverse this election. This group is very important, and their votes help to guarantee the democratic character of the vote. »
The Voto 70+ movement also notes that abstention among voters aged 70 and over decreased by 9.7 percentage points, from 58.8% in 2022 to 49.1% in the first round of the 2026 election. For electors under the age of 70, the forbearance rate increased from 16.9% to 17.7% over the same period.Relations