Initiative is part of the Democratic Transparency Cycle; inspections can be carried out until September this year
The União Brasil party carried out on Monday (May 25, 2026) the 1st inspection of the source codes of the electoral systems that will be used in the 2026 elections. The activity was carried out at the headquarters of the Superior Electoral Court, in Brasília, and is part of the set of actions of the Democratic Transparency Cycle promoted by the Electoral Court.
The initiative allows supervisory entities to monitor, in advance, the functioning of source codes, programs responsible for the operation of electronic voting machines and other electoral systems.
During the inspection, representatives of the party had access to the environment prepared by the TSE for analysis of source codes and were able to clarify doubts directly with the technical team from the organization’s Information Technology Secretariat.
According to the TSE’s Electoral Technology coordinator, Rafael Azevedo, the participation of institutions strengthens the legitimacy of the electoral process and expands knowledge about the functioning of the electronic voting system.
“The 1st step is to get to know the system, because here they can check the source code, documentation and ask questions. This means there is no type of misinformation. They are able to make more constructive criticism and understand the importance of participating in all stages of the Transparency Cycle”he declared.
The coordinator reinforced that the TSE encourages the participation of supervisory bodies.
“The system was built not just to allow auditing and verification. We want people to come and audit, because this makes the election increasingly legitimate”these.
Ana Rute Pessoa, one of the coordinators of União Brasil, spoke about the importance of the initiative to expand knowledge about the electoral system and combat false information.
“Here we leave with a lot of information, and what is misinformation becomes unvalidated. Not everything we hear really is. So, this visit is extremely important for the whole of society and all parties”, declared.
Expanded supervision
Access to the source codes for the 2026 election systems was opened by the TSE in October 2025, one year before the election took place. The measure encourages the expansion of the participation of legitimate institutions in the inspection process and reinforces the transparency policy adopted by the Brazilian Electoral Court.
Inspections can be carried out until September this year, before the Digital Signature and Sealing Ceremony of Electoral Systems. After this stage, the programs have definitive versions, prepared for use in elections.
How inspection works
To participate in the inspection, qualified entities must request a schedule in advance from the TSE, at least 10 days in advance. It is also necessary to inform the names of the technicians responsible for the analysis and the expected period of stay on the Court’s premises.
The exams are carried out in a specific space prepared by the Court, at the TSE headquarters. During the inspection cycle, participants can monitor the development of the systems, request technical clarifications and even submit suggestions for improvement, which are subsequently evaluated by the responsible team.
Opening of source codes
The opening of source codes is provided for in electoral legislation and has been carried out since 2002. From 2021, the inspection period, which was 6 months, was extended to 1 year before the elections, which increased the time available for analysis by the inspection entities listed in article 6 of the .
Source codes correspond to the set of instructions that define the functioning of electoral systems. They guide everything from the operation of electronic voting machines to other programs used throughout the voting and counting process.
Who can participate
According to TSE Resolution No. 23,673/2021, political parties, federations, coalitions, public institutions and civil society entities, such as the Brazilian Bar Association, the Federal Police, the Public Ministry, the Federal Audit Court and the Brazilian Computer Society, among others, can participate in the inspection.
The 2026 elections are scheduled for October 4th, in the 1st round, and for October 25th, in a possible 2nd round.
This text was originally published by the TSE on May 25, 2026. The content is free for republication, with the source cited, and has been adapted to the TSE standard. Poder360.
