On October 25, the runoff day, Justice Cristiano Zanin of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) extended voting by two hours, to 7 p.m., at polling stations across Brazil. The move followed requests from the Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro campaigns and criticism that TSE president Kassio Nunes Marques had not acted on the problems reported. The TSE paused vote counting during the delay and then called an emergency meeting, where other justices criticized both the delay and Zanin's decision.
On October 19, Zanin asked the TSE for information on the PSD's appeal to restore a Rio governor runoff, giving the court five days to reply. No ruling on that appeal has been reported. The TSE's pro-Lula WhatsApp channel was suspended twice and restored only after its address was registered with the court, with new posts barred for 48 hours.
Why it matters
One justice's ruling could decide Brazil's runoff if the courts can't stop single-justice overrides.
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Key Indicators
Oct 25
Runoff vote
Voting was extended to 7 p.m. nationwide by Zanin's order. Flávio Bolsonaro led the October 4 first round without a majority; the runoff pits him against President Lula.
29 events
Latest: October 26th, 2026 · 2 weeks ago
Showing 8 of 29
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October 2026
TSE holds emergency meeting over runoff-day delay
LatestLegal
Other TSE justices criticized the delay in Nunes Marques's handling of the problems and Zanin's decision. The court then convened an emergency meeting.
Zanin extends runoff voting to 7 p.m. nationwide
Legal
Zanin ordered polling stations across Brazil to stay open until 7 p.m., instead of closing at 5 p.m. He said the facts reached the STF at 4:32 p.m. and that the urgency justified the delay.
TSE pauses vote counting after extension
Legal
The TSE confirmed that the count was halted while the extended voting period ran. The extension followed requests from the Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro campaigns.
Zanin and Nunes Marques talk by phone on extension terms
Legal
The two justices spoke by phone on Sunday to adjust the terms of the extension order, according to Valor.
Zanin asks TSE for information on PSD's Rio appeal
Legal
Zanin gave the TSE five days to respond to the PSD's action seeking a Rio governor runoff. The PSD argues Garotinho's votes should count toward the absolute-majority base.
TSE approves rules for campaign-linked WhatsApp channels
Rule Change
The TSE plenary approved unanimously a resolution defining when supporter-run WhatsApp channels, groups and forums count as linked to a campaign. Six objective criteria apply, including use of campaign resources, technical support, official promotion, coordinated action and campaign guidance on content. Channels linked to campaigns must be registered with electoral authorities.
Zanin assigned as relator of PSD's Rio ADPF
Legal
The STF distributed ADPF 1362 to Justice Cristiano Zanin, who will hear the PSD's bid to suspend the Rio retotalization and restore a second round between Douglas Ruas and Eduardo Paes.
TRE-RJ unanimously ratifies Rio retotalization
Legal
The regional electoral court confirmed by unanimous vote the retotalization that gave Douglas Ruas 50.88% of valid votes and a first-round win for Rio governor.
TSE meets Meta over AI; judge bars platform interference
Legal
Nunes Marques and André Mendonça met Meta representatives to discuss AI use on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp and irregularities in boosted electoral ads. Separately, acting on a Lula campaign action, minister Marco Aurélio Bellizze ordered Meta not to interfere in distribution of political-electoral content from either candidate until the end of the runoff, with a daily R$500,000 fine for noncompliance.
PSD files Supreme Court appeal to restore second round in Rio
Legal
The PSD, backing Eduardo Paes, filed an ADPF at the STF arguing that Garotinho's 274,411 votes should count toward the base for an absolute majority, which would force a second round. The party asked that Nunes Marques, André Mendonça and Dias Toffoli not be assigned as relators, as they had voted on the issue at the TSE.
PT deputy asks STF to remove Nunes Marques from TSE functions
Legal
A PT deputy filed a request at the STF to remove Nunes Marques from TSE functions, citing partiality. STF and TSE said they won't remove him from judgments involving Lula and the PT.
Lula and Flávio campaigns agree to pre-litigation truce
Legal
The two presidential campaigns agreed each will notify the other of irregularities and allow up to three hours for correction before going to the electoral courts. They also agreed to suspend part of the pre-campaign and first-round cases to let the TSE focus on the final stretch.
TSE clash over pro-Lula WhatsApp channel
Legal
TSE president Nunes Marques ordered a pro-Lula WhatsApp channel taken down, but corregedor Ricardo Villas Bôas Cueva reversed it hours later, saying the suspension came before the process was fully instructed. The plenary will decide.
TRE-RJ confirms Ruas first-round win after retotalization
Legal
The regional electoral court recalculated Rio's governor vote with Garotinho's 274,411 ballots excluded, giving Ruas 50.88% of valid votes and confirming his first-round victory. Eduardo Paes dropped his appeal.
Fachin rejects Fux demand for sealed investigation access
Legal
STF President Edson Fachin rejected Minister Luiz Fux's demand for immediate full access to sealed investigations, saying full disclosure will follow a review of 104 linked procedures.
TSE orders removal of Bolsonaro posts linking Lula to factions
Legal
TSE justices ordered removal of Flávio Bolsonaro campaign posts linking Lula to criminal factions and imposed a R$5,000 fine.
TSE expands propaganda review panel
Rule Change
The TSE named substitute minister Marco Aurélio Bellizze and issued Portaria 674 and 675 to add personnel and push interim rulings to the plenary, after a surge of about 298 new propaganda actions.
TSE invalidates Garotinho votes, clearing Ruas for Rio win
Legal
The TSE rejected Anthony Garotinho's candidacy and invalidated his 274,411 votes, pushing Douglas Ruas above 50% and clearing him to win the Rio governor race without a runoff.
Fux orders access to sealed investigation files
Legal
Justice Luiz Fux ordered the court's secretariat to give his office full electronic access, within 48 hours, to four processes tied to the fake-news inquiry, including the case behind Operation Tempus Veritatis against Jair Bolsonaro.
Gilmar closes inquiry into Bolsonaro running mate
Legal
Gilmar Mendes closed a preliminary Federal Police inquiry into allegations against Alfredo Gaspar, Flávio Bolsonaro's running mate. He had held the case since April.
Plenary vote planned on Bolsonaro release
Legal
Nunes Marques is preparing to bring Jair Bolsonaro's release petition before the full court bench, to move after the runoff.
First round sends race to runoff
Election
Flávio Bolsonaro led incumbent Lula in the first round without passing 50%, forcing an October 25 runoff.
Nunes Marques declares first round clean
Statement
The TSE president said he saw no sign of foreign interference and called the vote successful, citing 21% abstention, the highest since 1998.
Gilmar overturns Paraná and Bahia rulings
Legal
He reverses TRE-PR decisions favoring Sergio Moro, frees Sandro Alex ads on abortion, and strips TRE-BA rights of reply for Jerônimo Rodrigues.
Fachin signs Resolution 921/2026
Rule Change
The STF president creates a triage stage for third-party and extension petitions, requiring presidential screening before they attach to a case.
Petition reaches Gilmar after rule signed
Legal
A request filed after the resolution goes straight to Gilmar's office because the court's electronic system was not yet updated.
Gilmar orders Globo to add Renan Santos to debate
Legal
Using an older complaint about Deltan Dallagnol, Gilmar overruled TSE president Nunes Marques and put a presidential candidate in the debate.
Globo cancels presidential debate
Legal
After two STF rulings changed the agreed lineup, TV Globo canceled the October 1 debate, citing "undue interference with the freedom of news organizations to organize election debates."
Pro-Lula WhatsApp channel suspended a second time, then restored
Legal
Nunes Marques suspended the 'Exército do Lula' channel again, citing use of a public messaging tool without prior notice to the court. He restored it after the campaign registered its address, with new posts allowed only after 48 hours.
Scenarios
1
Triage rule stops judge-shopping before the runoff
Deadline passed (Oct 25, 2026)
Discussed by: STF insiders cited by O Globo; court lawyers
The court finishes updating its electronic system to apply Resolution 921/2026. New petitions are screened by the Secretariat and the presidency. Unrelated requests get distributed by lottery rather than sent to a known rapporteur. Gilmar stops receiving new campaign disputes.
2
Bypass persists through the vote
Deadline passed (Oct 25, 2026)
Discussed by: Estadão, Particle News
The system update lags, and lawyers keep filing to preferred offices. New rulings could land before voting closes or in the run-up to the October 25 runoff. The election resolves on the merits, but the court's process stays contested.
3
Post-election review unravels the rulings
Unlikely
Resolves by Dec 15, 2026
Discussed by: Constitutional lawyers Marcelo Aith and Alberto Rollo, cited by Estadão
After the vote, the full STF plenary or the TSE examines whether the extension petitions had a real link to the original case. Rulings without that link could be annulled. That would reopen questions about the Paraná and Bahia races and the debate lineup.
4
Single-justice rulings resume during runoff campaign
Deadline passed (Oct 25, 2026)
Discussed by: STF insiders and campaign lawyers cited by O Globo and Particle News
Lawyers again file extension requests inside Gilmar Mendes' older cases during the October 4–25 runoff period. With the electronic system updated, Resolution 921/2026 should route unrelated petitions to a lottery; if the update lags, new rulings from one justice could shape the final stretch.
5
TSE asserts control over election disputes
Deadline passed (Oct 25, 2026)
Discussed by: TSE officials and campaign lawyers cited by Particle News
The TSE's expanded panel and faster rulings reduce the incentive for campaigns to bypass it and seek single-justice intervention at the STF. If the TSE rules quickly and consistently, fewer campaigns will file extension petitions with preferred STF justices.
6
PSD's appeal restores second round in Rio
Deadline passed (Oct 25, 2026)
Discussed by: PSD lawyers, legal analysts
The STF grants the PSD's ADPF, ruling that Garotinho's votes should count toward the base for an absolute majority, forcing a second round between Ruas and Paes on October 25.
7
TSE's new channel rules reshape the digital campaign
Deadline passed (Oct 25, 2026)
Discussed by: TSE ministers and campaign lawyers cited by G1 and CNN Brasil
The October 16 resolution lets the TSE take down supporter-run WhatsApp channels that function as unwitting campaign arms using campaign money, technical support or coordinated action. Registered channels face rules against fabricated or manipulated content. If enforced in the final week, the rules could cut the reach of semi-official pro-candidate channels in the presidential and state runoffs.
Historical Context
3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
1 of 3
December 2000
Bush v. Gore (2000)
On December 12, 2000, the US Supreme Court halted Florida's ballot recount, five weeks after the presidential election. The 5-4 decision ended the dispute over an uncounted vote margin.
Then
George W. Bush won the presidency without the recount completing.
Now
The ruling remains the standard example of a high court deciding an election by intervention.
Why this matters now
Shows the risk critics see in Brazil: a top court stepping in during an election's final moments can settle who wins.
2 of 3
2022-2024
US judge-shopping phenomenon (2022-2024)
Plaintiffs filed suits in single-judge divisions, like the Northern District of Texas's Amarillo office, to reach preferred judges. Nationwide injunctions followed on abortion pills, immigration, and other federal policies.
Then
Individual judges issued sweeping blocks on federal rules.
Now
In March 2024, the Judicial Conference adopted a policy requiring random assignment for cases seeking nationwide injunctions in certain districts.
Why this matters now
The same "pick your judge" mechanic drives relator fishing at the STF; both courts answered with procedural rules.
3 of 3
September 2018
Brazil's 2018 election and Lula's candidacy (2018)
Brazil's Superior Electoral Court barred Lula from the presidential race weeks before the first round, and the STF weighed related habeas corpus requests in the final stretch.
Then
The courts shaped the field of candidates in the last weeks.
Now
The episode set the pattern of courts deciding election questions under extreme time pressure.
Why this matters now
Brazilian courts have repeatedly become decisive actors in election finales; 2026 repeats that pattern under new procedural strain.
