Brazil runoff live updates: voting time extended as Bolsonaro narrowly leads Lula in race for presidency

The decision follows allegations of attempted voter suppression in at least 10 states, where public transport appears to have been severely limited in what some suspect was a deliberate ploy to stop Lula voters from reaching polling stations. Polls were initially set to close at 5pm Brasilia time.

Earlier, Lula told reporters he had never before complained about elections he had been involved in, irrespective of whether he had won or lost. "But this time something abominable is happening." The extension means voters can now cast ballots until 7pm.

Transport restrictions

Lula's campaign alleged that authorities in several cities were restricting voter access to public transportation. The local electoral court ordered the immediate restoration of 100% of the bus fleet and ordered the arrest of the municipal transport secretary, Pablo Souza, on suspicion of an electoral offence.

Pop fan mobilization

More than 600 Brazilian fanbase groups for international stars like Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, and Harry Styles, as well as Brazilian artists like Anitta and Marina Sena, have united to back Lula. The online campaign began after Bolsonaro emerged as the frontrunner in the first round on October 4.

"I had this feeling I'd seen it all before with Jair Bolsonaro, and that was really frustrating," says V, a Billie Eilish fan who helps run Info Billie Brasil. "So my first reaction was to use the only communication tool we have and get our community to embrace the cause: Lula's re-election."

Amazon at stake

Former environment minister Marina Silva warned that a Bolsonaro presidency would seek to finish the "perverse project" of rainforest destruction initiated by his father. "I've no doubt that this time they will try to finish the perverse project they started with [Jair] Bolsonaro," Silva said.

Silva predicted a second Bolsonaro term would encourage illegal mining, invasion of Indigenous lands, and violence against Indigenous communities. The Amazon was thrown into chaos during Jair Bolsonaro's 2019-2022 presidency, when Brazil's environment and Indigenous protection agencies were gutted.

Supreme Court scandal

Just days before the runoff, Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes was at the center of a scandal involving his wife's law firm having a £20m contract with a banker accused of orchestrating Brazil's largest banking fraud. Text messages suggesting a close relationship between Moraes and the banker have emerged.

Bolsonaro has repeatedly attacked Moraes, who oversaw the case in which his father was sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting a coup. Investigations revealed that at least four other justices had links to the disgraced banker, meaning half of the court's 10 current justices have been drawn into the scandal.