# Brazil’s undecided voters may decide election

> Brazil’s undecided voters could determine presidential election outcome.
- Title: Brazil’s undecided voters may decide election · Seattletimes
- Summary: Brazil’s undecided voters could determine presidential election outcome. Brazil’s undecided and abstaining voters may decide the presidential election…
- Keywords: brazil, lula, bolsonaro, presidential election, undecided voters, abstaining voters, second round election, political polarization, news, local, undecided, voters
- Source: Seattletimes — https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/world/neither-bolsonaro-nor-lula-brazils-undecided-and-abstaining-voters-may-determine-the-election
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: brazil, lula, bolsonaro, presidential election, undecided voters, abstaining voters, second round election, political polarization, news, local
## Ana Beatriz Bon Raggio
A 19-year-old theater student in Rio de Janeiro says she is undecided between Lula and Bolsonaro.

> The right mixes religion and faith, whereas I think those things should be separate, while (Lula’s) Workers’ Party has robbed the country
## Historical distrust
Bolsonaro faces corruption investigations and Lula was jailed for 19 months on corruption charges that were later annulled.

> Bolsonaro’s father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, is currently serving a 27-year sentence for planning a coup after his 2022 defeat to Lula
## Second round election
More than 33 million voters abstained in Brazil’s first round, the highest since 1998.

> Abstention of 20% isn’t ideal
## Bolsonaro’s advantages
Bolsonaro received 2 million more votes than Lula and has right-wing allies who will not support either candidate.

> Caiado, who garnered around 2.6 million votes, endorsed Bolsonaro on Tuesday
## Economic struggles
Gasoline prices rose from 5 reais ($1) per liter in January 2023 to 6.54 reais ($1.31) per liter in September 2026.

> But things are more expensive, and I’m feeling it
## Political polarization
Nearly six million people cast blank or spoiled votes as Brazil’s election becomes increasingly polarized.

> We talk a lot about polarization in Brazil, but we forget the higher percentage of people who don’t like this fight
## What happens next
Brazil’s undecided voters could determine the presidential election outcome in the second round on Oct 25.

> Brazil’s situation is complicated; I don’t think it’s a good idea for either of them to govern
## Key takeaway

Brazil’s undecided and abstaining voters may decide the presidential election between Lula and Bolsonaro.