Brazil’s Presidential Election Sees Over 3,500 Votes Nullified

In the recent presidential election in Brazil, over 3,500 voters had their ballots invalidated due to mistakenly entering “Six Seven” on their electronic voting machines, as reported by Poder 360.

This election wasn’t short on humor, like other Brazilian elections. There were not only several protest candidates but also a social media trend associated with “Six Seven” that showed up in the voting process. The first round saw the results lead to a runoff on October 25 between conservative Senator Flávio Bolsonaro and the current socialist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

According to Poder 360, a total of 3,539 votes out of more than 125 million cast were marked for the number “67,” which did not match any of the candidates listed on the ballot, each having their own designated number.

The outlet pointed out the challenge in identifying the intention behind these votes—whether they stemmed from the viral trend, were protest votes, or simply mistakes.

For 30 years, Brazil has relied on electronic voting machines. The current format requires voters to enter the specific number linked with their preferred candidate. For instance, voters needed to input “22” to vote for Bolsonaro or “13” for Lula in this election.

No candidate was assigned the number “67,” meaning votes entered under that figure were classified as null.

The upcoming runoff will see the same ballot numbers used again. Voters will still need to enter “22” for Bolsonaro and “13” for Lula, with any other combinations rendering their votes null. It’s worth noting that Bolsonaro’s campaign has heavily advertised the number 22.

Voting in Brazil is mandatory for individuals aged 18 to 70, while those aged 16 to 17, as well as illiterate citizens, can vote voluntarily. It’s essential to present valid identification when voting.

During the elections, voters cast six different votes: for the presidency, state governors, and both federal senators and congress members from their states. While presidential voting involved a two-digit number, votes for congress members and senators required longer sequences.

To streamline the voting process, electoral authorities advised voters to bring a pre-filled list of candidate numbers. Remarkably, over 20,500 candidates were competing, each with a unique ballot number.

Brazil’s voting machines allow voters to modify their selection before confirming their choice with a green button, with the candidate’s name and image displayed for verification. About 1.9 million votes were noted under the number “00,” a common approach for casting protest votes in Brazil. Additionally, voters can opt for a “blank” vote by using the white button on the machine, indicating no preference for any candidate.

Interestingly, several federal congressional candidates have leveraged their ballot numbers ending with “Six Seven” to tap into the viral trend during their campaigns. Some candidates even adopted gestures associated with this meme to resonate with younger voters.

This “Six Seven” meme has transcended internet culture, finding its way into musical expressions. A Brazilian artist, Laurinha Costa, along with DJs Cabello and Tchouzen, released a children’s song inspired by the viral phenomenon.