Update (Oct 17, 2026): the TSE confirmed the runoff on October 25, 2026 for president and for governor in Acre, Amazonas, the Federal District, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte and Tocantins. Hours are the same as in the first round: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Brasília time.
Brazilians living abroad vote in local time, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., not on Brasília time. So, in the runoff on October 25, 2026, voting around the world starts on Saturday, October 24, in New Zealand and ends on Sunday evening on the North American west coast: roughly 29 hours of voting across the globe.
Who votes abroad, and for what
According to Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE), there are 918,876 eligible voters abroad in 2026, in 134 countries and 186 cities, up 31.8% from 697,078 in 2022. The largest groups are in the United States (about 265,400), Portugal (about 134,700) and Japan (about 88,400). Lisbon is the largest overseas polling center with 78,833 voters, followed by Boston with 53,406.
Voters registered abroad vote only for president and vice-president. There is no vote for governor, senator or deputies at these polling places. Since no presidential candidate won more than 50% of valid votes in the first round, the TSE confirmed a presidential runoff on October 25, and voters abroad vote again (for president only).
How voting hours are set abroad
Inside Brazil, voting has been unified since 2022: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Brasília time in every state. Abroad, a different rule applies: voting and counting follow each country’s local time, over a 9-hour window (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local). In practice, the same Sunday “starts” in Auckland many hours before it starts in Los Angeles.
Why 29 hours? The first polling place to open is in New Zealand (8:00 a.m. local, 4:00 p.m. Saturday in Brasília); the last to close is in the North American Pacific zone (5:00 p.m. local, 9:00 p.m. Sunday in Brasília). From one end to the other, 29 hours pass.
Times on October 25, 2026: conversion table
The table shows the Brasília time (UTC−3) matching the opening (8:00 a.m. local) and closing (5:00 p.m. local) in reference cities, calculated with the time zone database for October 25, 2026. It helps you understand the time zones; the official list of polling places is published by TRE-DF and the TSE.
| City | Time zone on Oct 25, 2026 | Opens (8 a.m. local) = Brasília | Closes (5 p.m. local) = Brasília |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | UTC+13 | 4 p.m. Sat, Oct 24 | 1 a.m. Sun, Oct 25 |
| Sydney | UTC+11 | 6 p.m. Sat, Oct 24 | 3 a.m. Sun, Oct 25 |
| Tokyo | UTC+9 | 8 p.m. Sat, Oct 24 | 5 a.m. Sun, Oct 25 |
| Dubai | UTC+4 | 1 a.m. Sun, Oct 25 | 10 a.m. Sun, Oct 25 |
| Paris | UTC+1 | 4 a.m. Sun, Oct 25 | 1 p.m. Sun, Oct 25 |
| Lisbon and London | UTC+0 | 5 a.m. Sun, Oct 25 | 2 p.m. Sun, Oct 25 |
| New York, Miami, Boston, Toronto | UTC−4 | 9 a.m. Sun, Oct 25 | 6 p.m. Sun, Oct 25 |
| Los Angeles | UTC−7 | 12 p.m. Sun, Oct 25 | 9 p.m. Sun, Oct 25 |
The daylight saving effect on October 25
The date falls on a transition day. Europe ends daylight saving time in the early hours of October 25, so Lisbon, London and Paris are already on standard time on voting day: Lisbon is 3 hours ahead of Brasília (not 4, as in the previous week). The United States and Canada stay on daylight saving time until November 1, and New Zealand and Australia are on southern-hemisphere summer time. See details on daylight saving time in Europe and daylight saving time in the United States.
Where to vote and how polling places work
- Locations: most polling places are in Brazilian consulates and embassies, but they can also be set up in hotels, schools and other venues. The official list is published by TRE-DF and the TSE.
- Polling places: 1,310 in total: 1,282 with electronic voting machines and 28 with manual paper ballots, used where there are few voters.
- Compulsory voting: voting is mandatory for literate citizens aged 18 to 70, and optional for those aged 16 or 17, over 70, or unable to read and write.
To compare each country’s local time with Brasília, see the time difference between Brazil and Portugal, Brazil and the United States or Brazil and Japan, and the time zone converter.
Justifying an absence
Voters abroad who do not vote can justify their absence at one of the polling tables set up outside Brazil or through the e-Título app; the Electoral Self-Service portal is another channel. For the first round, the reported deadline was December 3, 2026. For the runoff, check the deadline on the TSE website.
When results come out
The TSE said results begin to be released from 5:00 p.m. Brasília time, at the same time nationwide, and that the presidential result is not released early. Because voting ends before 5:00 p.m. Brasília time in some zones (Asia, Oceania, Europe) and after it in others (North American east coast, 6:00 p.m.; west coast, 9:00 p.m.), each polling place’s votes enter the tally as local voting ends and its results report is transmitted.
FAQ
What are the voting hours abroad?
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in each country’s local time, not Brasília time.
Do Brazilians abroad vote for governor or deputies?
No. Voters registered abroad vote only for president and vice-president.
Why does worldwide voting last about 29 hours?
Because each country votes on its own local time: the first polling place opens in New Zealand and the last one closes on the North American west coast.
When is the runoff?
October 25, 2026, and only if no presidential candidate won more than 50% of valid votes in the first round.
Can I justify my absence from my phone?
Yes, through the e-Título app or Electoral Self-Service, within the deadline set by the TSE.
How do I plan a call with someone voting abroad?
Use the meeting planner and always state the time zone.
Summary
Abroad, voting runs 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time, in 134 countries and 186 cities, for president only. On October 25, 2026 it spans from 4:00 p.m. Saturday (Brasília) in New Zealand to 9:00 p.m. Sunday on the US west coast. Results begin to come out from 5:00 p.m. Brasília time, nationwide.