IFES
 

Oct. 4, 2026 Confirmed

Brazil
Federative Republic of Brazil
Election for Senado Federal (Brazilian Federal Senate)

General Information

At Stake in this Election:  

  • 54 seats in the Brazilian Federal Senate. 

 

Government Structure:  

  • Chief of State: President Luiz Inácio LULA DA SILVA (since 1 January 2023) 

  • Head of Government: President Luiz Inácio LULA DA SILVA (since 1 January 2023) 

  • Assembly: bicameral National Congress (Congresso Nacional) with an 81-seat Federal Senate (Senado Federal) and a 513-seat Chamber of Deputies (Câmara dos Deputados)  

 

Electoral System:   

  • The 81 Members of the Federal Senate  are directly elected to serve 8-year terms, with three Senators representing each of Brazil’s 27 federal units (26 states and 1 federal district). Elections are staggered, with one-third or two-thirds of seats being elected on an alternating basis every four years. In years where one-third of the seats are up for election, voters cast one vote and the candidate who receives a plurality in their state is elected. In years where two-thirds of seats are up for election, voters can cast two votes, though not for the same person.  

  • The 513 members of the Chamber of Deputies are elected to a four-year term. They are elected by proportional representation. The number of deputies elected is proportional to the size of the population of the respective state (or Federal District), with the least-populated states electing eight deputies, and the highest population state electing seventy deputies.   

 

Last Election:  

In the last election, the Liberal Party won 8 seats; the Brazil Union won 5 seats, the Workers’ Party won 4 seats, and the Progressives won 3 seats. The Social Democratic Party and Republicans won 2 seats each. Finally, the Brazilian Democratic Movement, Brazilian Socialist Party and Social Christian Party won 1 seat each. Voter turnout was 79%. 

 

New/Unique in this Election:  

Brazil amended Law No. 4,737, of July 15, 1965 (Electoral Code), and Law No. 9,504, of September 30, 1997 (Electoral Law) in advance of the elections. In practical terms, the amendments clarified that parties may form coalitions to compete in majoritarian, but not in proportional representation races; updated criteria for allocation of seats under the proportional system; set rules for debates for parties and candidates taking part in proportional representation races. 

 

Information for Voters: 

O seu guia das Eleições / Your Election Guide (in Portuguese)  

 

Key Deadlines: 

 

Main Parties in this Election:  

  • Liberal Party (PL) 

  • Brazil Union / União Brasil (União) 

  • Workers Party (PT) 

  • Progressive Party / Partido Progressista (PP) 

  • Social Democratic Party (PSD) 

  • Republicans / Republicans 

  • Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) 

  • Brazilian Democratic Movement  

The now dissolved Social Christian Party also obtained 1 seat This list includes all parties that secured seats in the last Federal Senate election in 2022. More information on candidate applications, approvals, and party affiliations is available from the TSE. 

 

Country Context: 

 

Gender Data: 

  • CEDAW Status: Signed March 31, 1981, Ratified February 1, 1984  

  • Gender Quota:  For Chamber of Deputies elections, District and State Senates, and Municipal Councils, each party or coalition must reserve at least 30% of candidacies, and not more than 70% of candidacies for each gender. See Article 10, Paragraph 3 on the ‘Registration of Candidates.’  

  • Female Candidates in this election: Yes  

  • Number of Female Legislators (pre-election): 14 out of 81 (17%) in the Federal Senate and 90 out of 513 (18%) in the Chamber of Deputies  

 

Disability Data: 

  • CRPD Status: Signed March 30, 2007, Ratified August 1, 2008  

  • Projected population with a disability: 34,049,985 (2025 est.) 

 

IFES Resources: 

  • Election Snapshot / FAQs (if available) 

Election Modified: Aug 07, 2026

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With Participation Rates