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Brazilians vote in general
elections
Brazilians went to polling
stations on Sunday in general
elections which will choose a
new president, federal
representatives and senators, as
well as state governors and
deputies.
Polling stations opened at 8:00
a.m. local time (1100 GMT) and
will close at 5:00 p.m. (2000
GMT).
Some 126 million eligible voters
will elect a president, 513
federal representatives, 27
senators, 27 state governors and
1,059 state deputies. A total of
18,966 candidates are running
for the positions.
The presidential winner is
expected to be announced before
the midnight (0300 GMT Monday)
when some 80 to 90 percent of
the votes are counted.
By law, a candidate has to gain
more than 50 percent of the
valid votes for an outright
victory in the election.
If there is no outright winner,
a run-off will be held on Oct.
31 between the two
front-runners.
According to the latest polls,
50 percent of people surveyed
supported reelection of
President Luiz Inacio Lula da
Silva of the Workers Party (PT).
His arch rival, former Sao Paulo
state governor Geraldo Alckmin,
of Social Democratic Party (PSDB)
received 25 percent of the
votes.
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