Voting booth with Brazilian electronic ballot machine

Brazilian voters use the electronic ballot machine, a voting system implemented in 1996 that eliminated fraud and sped up vote counting.

About this subject

The Brazilian electronic ballot machine is one of the most advanced and secure voting systems in the world, used in elections since 1996. Developed by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), it replaced paper ballots, drastically reducing fraud and counting errors. The voting process is simple: the voter types the candidate's number and confirms on a screen that shows photo and name. The machine has no internet connection, preventing remote attacks. By 2020, over 150 million Brazilians were eligible to vote, and vote counting is completed within hours after polls close. The system is auditable by parties and oversight entities, with public security tests held before each election. The electronic ballot machine is also used in other countries such as Paraguay and Argentina, and has inspired similar systems in India and the United States. A curiosity: the machine's software is open source, allowing any citizen or organization to examine its code.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Brazilian electronic ballot machine work?

The voter types the candidate's number (or party) and confirms the choice on a screen showing photo, name, and party. The machine has no internet connection and stores votes on an encrypted memory card.

Is the electronic ballot machine secure against fraud?

Yes. It undergoes public security tests, is audited by political parties, and has no internet connection. The vote is recorded encrypted, and the system is considered one of the most secure in the world.

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

It was implemented in 1996, for municipal elections. Since then, it has completely replaced paper voting, except in some countries that still use ballots.