Technological integration in the fulfillment of civic obligations and the guarantee of voter regularity before the Electoral Court
The exercise of suffrage in Brazil is governed by the principle of mandatory for citizens between 18 and 70 years oldas established in article 14 of the Federal Constitution. In this context, absence from the polls imposes on voters the need for administrative regularization with the Electoral Court. With the advancement of digitalization of public services, the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) established mechanisms to facilitate this process, the main one being the use of the e-Título application. Understanding how to justify voting through the e-Título application on election day is essential not only to avoid legal sanctions, but also to understand the modernization of Brazilian democratic infrastructure.
Legal attributions of electoral justification
Justifying absence is not just a bureaucratic act, but a legal instrument that preserves the citizen’s political rights. Its primary function is to formally communicate to the State the impossibility of attending the election, maintaining the condition of “electoral clearance”. Without this discharge, the voter incurs a series of impediments in the civil and administrative sphere.
The responsibilities of the justification system include:
Maintenance of registration regularity: Prevents the cancellation of the voter registration card, which occurs after three consecutive unexcused absences;
Exemption from fines: The justification granted exempts the citizen from paying electoral fines applicable to defaulters;
Preservation of civil rights: It guarantees that citizens continue to be able to issue passports, register for public examinations, renew enrollments in official educational establishments and obtain loans from state banks;
Historical evolution and digitalization of the process
Historically, the electoral justification process was exclusively analogue, requiring the voter to physically appear at a polling station or at a Justification Receiving Table. The procedure involved manually filling out the Electoral Justification Request (RJE) and presenting an official document with a photo. This model, although functional, generated queues and required robust operational logistics from the Regional Electoral Courts (TREs).
The technological turn occurred with the development of the e-Título, launched by the TSE. Initially conceived as a digital copy of the printed document, the application evolved to become an electoral services center. The implementation of the georeferencing justification functionality marked a significant transition in electoral administration, reducing operational costs and increasing convenience for voters who are outside their electoral home on election day.
Operation of the georeferencing system
To understand how to justify voting using the e-Título application on election day, it is necessary to analyze the verification mechanics used by the system. Unlike the post-election justification, which requires the attachment of supporting documents (such as medical certificates or travel tickets), the justification made on voting day is based on the real-time location of the mobile device.
The technical and operational procedure follows the guidelines below:
Geolocation validation: The application uses the smartphone’s GPS to check whether the voter is, in fact, outside the geographical limits of the municipality where their electoral domicile is registered;
Access to functionality: On election day, specifically during voting hours (generally from 8 am to 5 pm, Brasília time), the “Justification of Absence” option becomes active in the main interface or in the “More options” menu;
Immediate processing: When confirming the request, the system cross-references the location data with the TSE registration. If the distance is confirmed, the justification is automatically accepted by the system, generating a digital receipt;
It is imperative to note that for it to function correctly, the voter must have downloaded or updated the app in advance and granted location permissions to the software. If the voter is at their electoral address and cannot vote for health reasons or force majeure, the justification through the app on election day will not be validated by georeferencing and must be carried out later (within 60 days) with the appropriate documentation.
Importance of electoral regularity for citizenship
Electoral regularity goes beyond the simple act of voting; it is a requirement for the full exercise of citizenship in Brazil. The justification system, when facilitated by technology, aims to reduce passive abstention — that resulting from bureaucratic difficulties — and keep the national voter register updated and reliable.
The social impact of the tool is measurable in the reduction of bureaucracy in the public service. By eliminating the need for physical travel to justify absence, the TSE promotes more efficient management of public resources and offers citizens a quick way to fulfill their obligations. The integrity of the data collected via e-Título reinforces the security of the electoral process, ensuring that the Electoral Justice database accurately reflects the situation of millions of Brazilians.
The implementation of the e-Título and its georeferencing mechanism represent an institutional advance in the relationship between the State and the voter. By simplifying how to justify voting through the e-Título application on election day, the Superior Electoral Court reaffirms its commitment to modernization and accessibility. The system ensures that mandatory voting does not become a disproportionate obstacle for citizens on the move, balancing constitutional duty with the facilities provided by digital innovation, thus maintaining the health of the electoral body and the validity of Brazilians’ political rights.
