Company Veritá cited cities in Maranhão as samples used in the survey field; decision accepted PSD action, but is not definitive
The TRE-SC (Regional Electoral Court of Santa Catarina) suspended on Thursday (June 11, 2026), through an injunction, the publication of an electoral survey carried out by the research company Veritá for the positions of governor and senator in the State. Read the decision (PDF – 322 kB).
The measure is the result of a lawsuit filed by the PSD-SC and questions the electoral survey registered with the Superior Electoral Court under the protocol . According to the judge in the case, José Sérgio da Silva Cristóvam, the original research report listed municipalities in Maranhão (Barra do Corda, Barreirinhas, Bom Jardim, Chapadinha, Imperatriz, Pinheiro, Santa Inês, São Bento, São Domingos do Maranhão, São José de Ribamar and São Luís) among those included in the sample.
According to the PSD, the report was later replaced on the TSE electoral research consultation website by one that only included municipalities in Santa Catarina, but the measure exceeded the deadline required by .
“Despite the exposed methodological error, the survey numbers were circulating intensely. The data was widely celebrated and shared on the governor’s social networks (PL), in addition to being reported by several Santa Catarina press vehicles. To stop misinformation, the Electoral Court imposed the immediate removal of the content”declared the PSD, in a note.
With the injunction, the research had its publication suspended immediately. They also ordered the removal of social media publications already made by Veritá about the survey and the prohibition of further publication until a later trial, under penalty of a daily fine of R$10,000 for non-compliance.
The measure is reversible and, if the regularity of the research is proven, its dissemination may be resumed.
THE OTHER SIDE
O Poder360 contacted Veritá, who said they had identified “a material mistake” in the search. “The situation was promptly identified by the Institute’s internal control and audit mechanisms, and was duly corrected, without any impact on the methodology used, statistical consistency or final results of the research.
Read the full note:
“Instituto Veritá clarifies that it identified a material error in the presentation of the territorial delimitation of the research registered under number TSE-SC 02757/2026, referring to the state of Santa Catarina.
“The research is part of the third round of the Veritá 2026 Project, carried out simultaneously in the 27 units of the Federation, using a standardized questionnaire, uniform methodology and statistical criteria rigorously applied throughout the country.
“The inconsistency occurred exclusively in the list of municipalities presented in the research record, due to the improper inclusion of some municipalities belonging to another unit of the Federation.
“The situation was promptly identified by the Institute’s internal control and audit mechanisms, and was duly corrected, without any impact on the methodology used, statistical consistency or the final results of the research.
“The Veritá Institute is grateful for the contact and for the opportunity to provide the necessary clarifications, reaffirming its permanent commitment to transparency, technical quality and the truth of the data presented.
Instituto Veritá.”
