1822 → 2026 · 20 presidential elections since 1945 · 6 of them indirect
Empire, republics,
a dictatorship, the urna.
Brazil has had seven constitutions since independence. Between 1964 and 1985 no president was chosen by the voters; since the 1988 Constitution every office is filled by direct vote, two presidents have been removed by impeachment, and since 2000 every vote is cast on an electronic machine.
Timeline · 40 milestones
Two hundred years
in 6 eras.
40 milestones shown
Empire, 1822–1889. A constitutional monarchy under Pedro I and Pedro II. Deputies were chosen in indirect, income-tested elections and senators by the Emperor from lists of three; slavery was abolished only in 1888, a year before the monarchy fell.
Old Republic, 1889–1930. A federal republic of strong states. Literate men voted openly, few did, and the governors' pact let São Paulo and Minas Gerais take turns in the presidency.
Vargas era, 1930–1945. Getúlio Vargas came to power in the Revolution of 1930. The 1932 Electoral Code brought the secret ballot, the women's vote and the Electoral Justice; from 1937 the Estado Novo closed Congress until Vargas was deposed in 1945.
1946 Republic, 1945–1964. Four direct presidential elections, won by plurality, with mass parties (PSD, UDN, PTB). Vargas returned by vote in 1950 and died in office in 1954; Brasília became the capital in 1960.
Military rule, 1964–1985. After the coup of 1 April 1964, generals ruled through institutional acts. Presidents were chosen by Congress and later by an electoral college; only ARENA and the MDB could run from 1965 to 1979.
New Republic, 1985–. Civilian rule from 15 March 1985, the 1988 Constitution, direct elections from 1989, two presidents removed by impeachment, and electronic voting for every voter since 2000.
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Independence
Prince Pedro declares Brazil independent of Portugal and is acclaimed Emperor Pedro I.
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The Constitution of the Empire
A constitutional monarchy with a 'moderating power' held by the Emperor. Deputies are chosen in indirect elections by men who meet an income test.
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Lei Saraiva
Direct elections for the Chamber, but new voters must be able to read and write: the literacy bar that lasted until 1985.
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The Republic is proclaimed
Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca deposes Emperor Pedro II; Decreto nº 4 of 19 November adopts the flag with the positivist motto Ordem e Progresso.
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First republican constitution
A federal presidential republic; literate men over 21 vote, openly.
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The governors' politics and café com leite
From Campos Sales's presidency the federal government and the state oligarchies back each other; São Paulo (coffee) and Minas Gerais (dairy) largely alternate in the presidency until 1930. Votes are open and often controlled by local bosses (coronelismo).
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Revolution of 1930: Getúlio Vargas takes power
The Old Republic's governors' pact ends; Vargas governs provisionally.
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Electoral Code: secret ballot, women vote, electoral courts
Decreto 21.076 creates the Electoral Justice, the secret ballot and the vote for women.
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1934 Constitution
Writes the secret ballot, the Electoral Justice and the vote for women into the Constitution and lowers the voting age to 18. Literacy is still required.
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Estado Novo
Vargas closes Congress and rules by decree until deposed in October 1945.
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1946 Constitution
Restores democracy; direct presidential elections in 1945, 1950, 1955 and 1960.
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Brasília inaugurated
Juscelino Kubitschek moves the capital from Rio de Janeiro to the new city on the central plateau.
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Quadros resigns; a parliamentary interlude
Jânio Quadros resigns on 25 August. To let Vice-President João Goulart take office over military objections, Congress adopts a parliamentary system (Additional Act, Constitutional Amendment No. 4).
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Plebiscite restores presidentialism
Voters reject the parliamentary system and Goulart regains full presidential powers.
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Military coup
President João Goulart is deposed; presidents are chosen by Congress and later an electoral college, all generals, until 1985. Only two parties, ARENA and MDB, are allowed from 1965 to 1979.
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Institutional Act No. 5
Congress closed, habeas corpus suspended for political crimes, censorship; revoked from 1 January 1979.
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Amnesty law and the return of parties
Lei 6.683 amnesties political crimes (and the regime's agents); the two-party system ends that year.
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Diretas Já: the amendment fails
After rallies of over a million people, the Dante de Oliveira amendment for direct presidential elections falls 22 votes short of two-thirds in the Chamber.
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Tancredo Neves elected by the electoral college
The first civilian president since 1964, chosen indirectly; he dies before taking office and José Sarney becomes President.
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Constitutional Amendment No. 25
Restores direct presidential elections and gives illiterate citizens the vote, optional for them.
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The 'Citizen Constitution'
Promulgated by the Constituent Assembly: direct elections at every level, voting at 16, two rounds for executives.
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First direct presidential vote since 1960
Fernando Collor defeats Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the second round on 17 December.
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Collor impeached
The Chamber authorises the trial on 29 September; Collor resigns as the Senate trial opens and is convicted on 30 December, barred from office for eight years. Itamar Franco completes the term.
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Plebiscite on the form of government
Held under the Constitution's transitional provisions (ADCT art. 2): voters keep the republic and the presidential system, rejecting a monarchy and a parliamentary system.
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The Real plan
The real replaces the cruzeiro real, ending years of very high inflation. Its architect as finance minister, Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB), wins the presidency in October in the first round.
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First electronic voting machines
Urnas eletrônicas are used in 57 cities in the municipal elections; by 2000 every voter uses one.
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Re-election allowed
EC 16/1997 allows one consecutive re-election; Fernando Henrique Cardoso is re-elected in 1998.
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Lula elected
Lula (PT) wins the second round with 61.3%; re-elected in 2006. Dilma Rousseff (PT) wins in 2010 and 2014.
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Ficha Limpa
LC 135/2010, a popular-initiative law, bars candidates convicted by collegiate courts for eight years.
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Rousseff removed
The Chamber authorises impeachment on 17 April (367–137); the Senate convicts her of budget offences 61–20. Michel Temer completes the term.
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Temer takes over
Vice-President Michel Temer (PMDB), acting since May, serves the rest of the term to 1 January 2019. A constitutional amendment (EC 95/2016) caps federal spending for twenty years.
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Barrier clause and the end of list coalitions
EC 97/2017 bans coalitions in proportional races from 2020 and phases in a performance threshold for party funding and airtime.
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Jair Bolsonaro elected
Bolsonaro (then PSL) defeats Fernando Haddad (PT) with 55.1%; Lula, convicted in 2017–18, was barred under Ficha Limpa. The STF annulled Lula's convictions in 2021.
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Party federations
Lei 14.208/2021 lets parties run as one list if they stay together nationally for at least four years.
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Lula returns
Lula defeats Bolsonaro with 50.90% of valid votes, the closest second round since 1989.
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8 January attacks
Supporters of Bolsonaro invade and vandalise the Planalto Palace, Congress and the STF in Brasília, a week after Lula's inauguration.
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Bolsonaro ineligible until 2030
The TSE finds abuse of power for a July 2022 meeting with ambassadors attacking the voting machines: ineligible for eight years from the 2022 election.
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Bolsonaro convicted of a coup plot
The STF's First Panel convicts him, 4–1, of attempting a coup and four other crimes; sentence 27 years and 3 months. He began serving it in November 2025 and has been in humanitarian house arrest since 27 March 2026.
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2026 general elections, first round
Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) leads Lula (PT) 47,03% to 45,16%; PL wins 121 of the 513 Chamber seats, the largest bench elected since the PMDB's 260 in 1986.
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Lula re-elected to a fourth term
Lula beats Flávio Bolsonaro 51.79% to 48.21% after trailing him in the first round (45.16% to 47.03%).
Presidential elections, 1945 → 2026
14 direct votes,
6 indirect.
The winner's share in each round. Under the 1946 Constitution a plurality was enough; since 1989 a candidate needs an absolute majority of valid votes or goes to a second round. From 1964 to 1985 Congress, and from 1974 an electoral college, chose the president.
- Winner, first (or only) round
- Winner, second round
- Indirect: share of the votes in Congress or the electoral college
Turnout, direct elections only (first round, % of registered electors)
Table: every presidential election
| Year | How | Winner | Round 1 | Round 2 | Runner-up | Turnout | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Dec 1945 | Direct | Eurico Gaspar Dutra (PSD) | 55,38% | — | Eduardo Gomes (UDN) | 83,2% | TSE |
| 3 Oct 1950 | Direct | Getúlio Vargas (PTB) | 48,73% | — | Eduardo Gomes (UDN) | 72,1% | TSE |
| 3 Oct 1955 | Direct | Juscelino Kubitschek (PSD) | 35,68% | — | Juarez Távora (PDC/UDN) | 59,7% | TSE |
| 3 Oct 1960 | Direct | Jânio Quadros (PTN) | 48,26% | — | Henrique Teixeira Lott (PSD) | 81,1% | TSE |
| 11 Apr 1964 | Indirect | Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco | 98,63% | — | Juarez Távora | — | Wikipedia (secondary) |
| 3 Oct 1966 | Indirect | Artur da Costa e Silva (ARENA) | sole candidate | — | — | — | Wikipedia (secondary) |
| 25 Oct 1969 | Indirect | Emílio Garrastazu Médici (ARENA) | sole candidate | — | — | — | Wikipedia (secondary) |
| 15 Jan 1974 | Indirect | Ernesto Geisel (ARENA) | 84,03% | — | Ulysses Guimarães (MDB) | — | Wikipedia (secondary) |
| 15 Oct 1978 | Indirect | João Figueiredo (ARENA) | 61,10% | — | Euler Bentes Monteiro (MDB) | — | Wikipedia (secondary) |
| 15 Jan 1985 | Indirect | Tancredo Neves (PMDB) | 72,73% | — | Paulo Maluf (PDS) | — | Wikipedia (secondary) |
| 15 Nov 1989 | Direct | Fernando Collor (PRN) | 30,48% | 53,03% | Lula (PT) | 88,1% | TSE |
| 3 Oct 1994 | Direct | Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB) | 54,28% | — | Lula (PT) | 82,3% | TSE |
| 4 Oct 1998 | Direct | Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB) | 53,06% | — | Lula (PT) | 78,5% | TSE |
| 6 Oct 2002 | Direct | Lula (PT) | 46,44% | 61,27% | José Serra (PSDB) | 82,3% | TSE |
| 1 Oct 2006 | Direct | Lula (PT) | 48,61% | 60,83% | Geraldo Alckmin (PSDB) | 83,3% | TSE |
| 3 Oct 2010 | Direct | Dilma Rousseff (PT) | 46,91% | 56,05% | José Serra (PSDB) | 81,9% | TSE |
| 5 Oct 2014 | Direct | Dilma Rousseff (PT) | 41,59% | 51,64% | Aécio Neves (PSDB) | 80,6% | TSE |
| 7 Oct 2018 | Direct | Jair Bolsonaro (PSL) | 46,03% | 55,13% | Fernando Haddad (PT) | 79,7% | TSE |
| 2 Oct 2022 | Direct | Lula (PT) | 48,43% | 50,90% | Jair Bolsonaro (PL) | 79,0% | TSE |
| 4 Oct 2026 | Direct | Lula (PT) | 45,16% | 51,79% | Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) | 78,9% | TSE |
TSE figures come from its open-data files (votacao_candidato and detalhe_votacao per year); see the notes in our snapshot for small differences from other compilations.
Chamber of Deputies, 1986 → 2026
From one dominant party
to the Centrão and PL.
In 1986 the PMDB won 260 of 487 seats. No party has come close since: in 2026 the largest bench, PL, won 121 of 513. Each column is one Chamber as elected, grouped by party family.
- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
- Other
Table: seats by family and largest party
| Election | Left | Centre-left | Centre | Centre-right | Right | Other | Total | Largest | Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Nov 1986 | 6 | 41 | 260 | 146 | 34 | — | 487 | PMDB 260 | 95,0% |
| 3 Oct 1990 | 8 | 92 | 109 | 235 | 51 | 8 | 503 | PMDB 108 | 85,8% |
| 3 Oct 1994 | 10 | 100 | 113 | 235 | 54 | 1 | 513 | PMDB 107 | 82,3% |
| 4 Oct 1998 | 7 | 103 | 88 | 250 | 64 | 1 | 513 | PFL 105 | 78,5% |
| 6 Oct 2002 | 12 | 139 | 92 | 211 | 56 | 3 | 513 | PT 91 | 82,3% |
| 1 Oct 2006 | 16 | 147 | 117 | 179 | 53 | 1 | 513 | PMDB 89 | 83,3% |
| 3 Oct 2010 | 18 | 161 | 99 | 161 | 72 | 2 | 513 | PT 86 | 81,9% |
| 5 Oct 2014 | 15 | 131 | 146 | 142 | 76 | 3 | 513 | PT 69 | 80,7% |
| 7 Oct 2018 | 19 | 121 | 114 | 116 | 138 | 5 | 513 | PT 56 | 79,8% |
| 2 Oct 2022 | 20 | 108 | 102 | 85 | 198 | — | 513 | PL 98 | 79,2% |
| 4 Oct 2026 | 25 | 99 | 86 | 89 | 214 | — | 513 | PL 121 | 79,1% |
Who may vote
From literate men
to sixteen-year-olds.
- 1881 Literacy required
Lei Saraiva: direct elections, but only literate men with a minimum income may register. Source (secondary) ↗
- 1891 Literate men over 21
The first republican constitution drops the income test; voting is open (not secret). Source ↗
- 1932 Women vote; the ballot is secret
The Electoral Code (Decreto 21.076) gives women the vote, creates the secret ballot and the Electoral Justice. Source ↗
- 1934 Voting age 18
The 1934 Constitution lowers the age to 18 and makes registration and voting compulsory for men and for women in public employment. Source ↗
- 1985 The illiterate may vote
Constitutional Amendment No. 25 lifts the literacy bar of 1881; voting is optional for them. Source ↗
- 1988 Optional at 16 and 17
The Constitution makes voting compulsory from 18 to 70 and optional at 16–17, over 70 and for the illiterate (art. 14). Source ↗
- 1996 The urna eletrônica
Electronic voting machines in 57 cities in the municipal elections. Source ↗
- 2000 Every voter on an urna
The municipal elections are the first held entirely on electronic machines. Source ↗
- 2008 Biometric identification
Fingerprint identification is piloted in three municipalities; by 2026 about 89% of voters are registered biometrically (press figure). Source ↗
Today: compulsory from 18 to 70 for the literate; optional at 16–17, over 70 and for the illiterate (CF art. 14). How to vote →
2022 → 2026
The 2022 election
and the courts.
Jair Bolsonaro lost the 2022 run-off by 50,90% to 49,10% of valid votes. On 8 January 2023 his supporters stormed the seats of the three powers in Brasília. Since then the electoral and supreme courts have ruled on him in two separate cases.
- Ineligibility (TSE). On 30 June 2023 the Superior Electoral Court found abuse of political power and misuse of the media for a July 2022 meeting with ambassadors at which he attacked the voting machines: ineligible for eight years from the 2022 election, to 2030.
- Criminal conviction (STF). On 11 September 2025 the First Panel of the Supreme Federal Court convicted him, 4–1, of attempting a coup and four other crimes and sentenced him to 27 years and 3 months.
- Status. He began serving the sentence in November 2025 and has been in humanitarian house arrest since 27 March 2026, kept in place by Justice Alexandre de Moraes in July 2026. Whether later legislation on sentencing changes his sentence is not verified here.
- 2026. His son Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) ran for president and lost the run-off to Lula, 48,21% to 51,79%.
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Lula returns
Lula defeats Bolsonaro with 50.90% of valid votes, the closest second round since 1989.
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8 January attacks
Supporters of Bolsonaro invade and vandalise the Planalto Palace, Congress and the STF in Brasília, a week after Lula's inauguration.
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Bolsonaro ineligible until 2030
The TSE finds abuse of power for a July 2022 meeting with ambassadors attacking the voting machines: ineligible for eight years from the 2022 election.
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Bolsonaro convicted of a coup plot
The STF's First Panel convicts him, 4–1, of attempting a coup and four other crimes; sentence 27 years and 3 months. He began serving it in November 2025 and has been in humanitarian house arrest since 27 March 2026.
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Lula re-elected to a fourth term
Lula beats Flávio Bolsonaro 51.79% to 48.21% after trailing him in the first round (45.16% to 47.03%).