Brazil presidential hopeful questions electronic voting system to diplomats

Flávio Bolsonaro, a presidential hopeful and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, raised concerns about Brazil's electronic voting system during a private meeting with diplomats from over 40 countries and international organizations. He claimed that Brazilian voting machines share the same origin as those from the Venezuelan company Smartmatic and referenced a supposed CIA report on electoral vulnerabilities in Venezuela.

"I just want to note that many of these machines used in Brazilian elections are from the same company," Bolsonaro stated during the event, which was not publicly disclosed. While he clarified he was not "questioning the Brazilian voting system," he urged the international community to send as many observers as possible for the upcoming October presidential elections.

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I just want to note that many of these machines used in Brazilian elections are from the same company.

The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) has consistently refuted such claims since 2020. The court clarified that Smartmatic has exclusively provided training for technical and operational support staff for Brazilian voting machines, and has never supplied any equipment or software. The TSE maintains that the entire system and its programming are conceived and managed exclusively and in an encrypted manner by the Electoral Justice.

This meeting occurs under the shadow of a similar event four years prior, when then-President Jair Bolsonaro used state media to address foreign ambassadors, attacking the security of electronic voting and sowing suspicion of fraud. That episode led to severe judicial consequences, with the TSE declaring Jair Bolsonaro ineligible until 2030 for abuse of political power and improper use of public media.

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Do not question the Brazilian voting system, but I want to ask the international community to send the largest possible number of observers for the next presidential elections in October.