Voters who did not attend the second round of the 2024 municipal elections must justify their absence until this Tuesday (7). On October 27th, voters from 51 municipalities in the country, 15 of which were capital cities, voted for the candidates who went to the second round.
An excuse for absence is only necessary for those who are obliged to vote. In Brazil, voting is mandatory for people over 18 years old and optional for illiterate people, aged between 16 and 18 years old and over 70 years old.
The 60-day period from the second round also applies to those who were in their own voting domicile and did not vote for a fair reason. In these cases, it is necessary to attach documentation proving the reason for absence from the election for analysis by the electoral judge responsible for the area of that absent voter.
Each electoral round is considered an independent election by the Electoral Court, for attendance purposes. Therefore, the voter must separately justify non-attendance in each of the rounds. The deadline to justify absence in the first round of the 2024 elections without incurring fines was closed on December 5th.
e-Title
The justification for absence can be presented in person at an electoral registry, through the e-Título application, available for smartphones or on websites of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) and the state electoral courts, the TREs.
When accessing the app, voters who have a regular or even suspended electoral registration card must click on the ‘More options’ link, select the location to request justification for absence and fill out the form with the requested data.
The application will be transmitted to the electoral zone responsible for the voter’s document for analysis. Through a generated protocol, the citizen will be able to monitor the progress of the request. After the decision has been made whether or not to accept the justification, the person will be notified.
On the internet
Another way to justify absence from the election is onlineon the TSE website, on the electronic page of Electoral Self-Service. It is necessary to inform the electoral registration number, the Individual Taxpayer Registration Number (CPF) or the name, date of birth and mother’s name (if applicable). Internet users will be able to follow the progress of the request sent to the Electoral Court at the same virtual address.
The data provided must match those on the electoral register. If the system does not recognize the data entered, the voter must contact the electoral zone responsible for the title for clarification.
At the electoral office
If the voter prefers to justify their absence from the election in person, they must go to the nearest electoral office, fill out the Electoral Justification Request form (post-election) and deliver it or send it by post to the judicial authority of the responsible electoral zone by title. Once accepted, the justification will be recorded in the voter registration history.
Sanctions
Unjustified absence from the polls results in sanctions for voters who missed municipal elections.
Among them is the payment of the fine imposed by the Electoral Court. The calculation basis for applying the fines provided for in the Resolution, unless otherwise provided, will be R$ 35.13.
According to TSE resolution No. 23,659/2021, citizens who declare a state of poverty will be exempt from paying the fine for absenteeism from the polls.
After January 7th, on the page Discharge of Finesvoters can check their debts and issue the Union Collection Guide (GRU) to pay off electoral fines resulting from absence from the polls and/or electoral work.
In addition to the fine, anyone who did not attend the polling station in the second round of the 2024 election and did not justify their absence will be prevented from obtaining their passport and identity card, renewing their enrollment in an official educational establishment or one supervised by the government, enrolling in public examination and taking office in public office, receiving remuneration in public service, among other restrictions.
If the voter has requested justification for absence from one of the rounds of the 2024 municipal election and the reason is not accepted, the electoral judge will arbitrate the amount of the fine.
If the title is in a “cancelled” status, due to three consecutive unjustified absences from the elections, in addition to paying the fines due, it is necessary to request a review or a transfer of domicile to regularize the situation.
