Voting booth with Brazilian electronic ballot machine

Brazilian polling station with an electronic ballot machine, a symbol of democracy and technological innovation in the country's elections.

About this subject

The Brazilian electronic voting machine, known as 'urna eletrônica', was introduced in 1996 to modernize the electoral process. Developed by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), it replaced paper ballots, reducing fraud and speeding up vote counting. Each machine is a standalone device with no internet connection, ensuring cybersecurity. The system is audited by political parties and independent entities before and after elections.

During elections, voters type the candidate's number and confirm their vote on a screen showing the candidate's photo and name. The machine also allows blank or null votes. After the election, votes are transmitted encrypted to the TSE. Brazil has held fully electronic elections since 2000, one of the largest such systems in the world.

Despite criticism about the lack of a paper trail, the TSE defends the system's security. In 2022, over 156 million voters cast ballots in about 500,000 machines. The electronic voting machine is an icon of Brazilian democracy, present in all municipalities across the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Brazilian electronic voting machine work?

The voter types the candidate's number, checks the photo and name on the screen, and confirms the vote. The machine has no internet connection and stores votes encrypted.

Is the electronic voting machine secure?

Yes, the system is audited by political parties and independent entities. The machine is not connected to the internet and uses encryption to transmit votes.

Since when has the electronic voting machine been used in Brazil?

It was introduced experimentally in 1996, and since 2000 all elections have been fully electronic.