159 million Brazilians vote Sunday in tied presidential runoff

Close to 159 million Brazilians are eligible to cast ballots on Sunday in a presidential runoff that current polls show as tied.

The final day of campaigning saw tens of thousands of supporters gather on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. The crowd, dressed largely in red, filled the 2.5-mile stretch of sand in a procession under bright sun. Activists displayed a large banner reading, "WE ARE GOING TO TURN THIS AROUND!"

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva seeks a historic victory against far-right rival Flávio Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro won the first round on October 4 with 47% of the vote, compared to Lula's 45%. Since democracy returned to Brazil in the 1980s, no candidate who lost the first round has won the subsequent runoff.

Lula has gained momentum in recent days amid scandals involving his opponent. Last week, the magazine Piauí reported that Flávio Bolsonaro attended a boat party with sex workers and vaccine lobbyists during the peak of the 2020 coronavirus outbreak. His father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election.

Many voters view the race as a choice between two distinct political forces. Restaurateur Marta Moraes, 59, stated her opposition was to "Bolsonarismo" rather than the right as a whole. She noted she lost four relatives due to government neglect during the pandemic. Others in the crowd, including a 14-year-old in a wheelchair, expressed strong support for Lula's re-election.

Bolsonaro supporters also held large rallies. In Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais state, thousands gathered wearing yellow football jerseys and waving flags. Minas Gerais holds the country's second-largest electorate, and no candidate has won the presidency without carrying that state. Bolsonaro led there by just under 5% in the first round.

The contest remains close despite the large crowds. Truck driver Josias Silva, 61, predicted Lula would win more than 60% of the vote, though polls point to a much narrower margin. Most analysts still see Bolsonaro as the slight favorite.