FHC leads the Presidential race! At 9:00 pm Rio time, 8:00 pm EDST, with 39.92% of the vote reported, according to O Globo, FHC has 50.89% of the total votes cast for Presidential candidates. Under Brasilian law the winner must have a majority of all votes cast (50% plus 1) for Presidential candidates. Blank, abstain, and null votes do not count. If there is no winner, then a second “round” will be held in early November.
Fernando Henrique 14.668.094 or 50,89%
Lula 9.874.298 or 34,26%
Ciro Gomes 3.364.400 or 11,67%
Nulos (Null or voided votes) 3.689.863
Brancos (Blank) 1.357.625
Abstenção (Abstain) 7.837.461
Given the high number of “Null”, or voided votes, enough to deny HFC the needed 50%, I would anticipate a challenge from Lula claiming that many of his people were disenfranchised at the polls by having their vote voided |
