Official Electoral Justice tool for exercising social control over political campaign advertising
The integrity of the Brazilian democratic process depends not only on the security of the ballot boxes, but also on fairness in the dispute between candidates. In this context, monitoring campaign advertising plays a central role in preventing abuses of economic power and information distortions. The Electoral Court, through the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), established digital mechanisms to facilitate citizen participation, the main one being the Pardal application. Understanding how to use the Pardal application to report irregular electoral propaganda is essential for voters who wish to act as inspectors of the law, ensuring that the rules established in the Elections Law (Law No. 9,504/1997) are strictly complied with.
Responsibilities and scope of digital inspection
The Pardal application was developed with the specific objective of processing complaints relating to electoral propaganda, whether carried out on the streets or in the digital environment. Its primary function is to serve as a direct channel between civil society and the Public Electoral Ministry (MPE), streamlining the investigation of administrative infractions and electoral crimes.
The tool allows the recording of occurrences related to different types of irregularities, such as:
Early advertising: Advertising carried out before the period allowed by the official electoral calendar.
Visual and noise pollution: Improper use of billboards, easels in prohibited locations, graffiti and excessive decibels in sound cars.
Use of the public machine: Complaints about the use of public administration goods or services for the benefit of candidates.
Electoral crimes: Buying votes, misuse of corporate structures and systematic disinformation.
It is important to note that Pardal directs complaints to the competent electoral zones. The system does not judge merit instantly, but formalizes the evidence of irregularity so that judicial authorities can exercise police power and apply appropriate sanctions, which range from fines to revocation of candidacy registration.
History and evolution of the tool
The origin of Pardal dates back to regional initiatives to modernize the judiciary. Initially created in 2012 by the Regional Electoral Court of Espírito Santo (TRE-ES), the software was designed to handle the large volume of information that arrived at electoral offices in an unstructured way. Given the effectiveness demonstrated at the state level, the Superior Electoral Court adopted the technology, expanding it throughout the national territory starting with the 2016 municipal elections.
Since its nationalization, the application has undergone several updates to adapt to changes in legislation and technological advances. The most recent versions have incorporated specific functionalities to combat disinformation and improved the user interface to guarantee the precise geolocation of reports. The evolution of Pardal reflects the transition from purely in-person inspection to a hybrid model, where technology acts as a multiplier of the State’s monitoring capacity.
Technical operation and reporting procedure
To understand how to use the Pardal application to report irregular electoral propaganda, it is necessary to analyze the data flow established by the system. The process is designed to guarantee the legal validity of the evidence presented, requiring material elements from the complainant to support the accusation.
The operation operates under the logic of identification and proof:
Identification of the whistleblower: To avoid using the tool for anonymous slander or political persecution, the system requires citizen registration (name, CPF). The identity of the complainant is kept confidential from the public and those reported, and is only accessible to the Electoral Court and the Public Prosecutor’s Office;
Evidence collection: The user must attach proof of the irregularity. The application allows you to send photos, videos and audio captured in real time. Geolocation (GPS) is automatically recorded to prove the location of the infraction;
Categorization of the infraction: The system asks the user to classify the type of irregularity (e.g. posters, gifts, internet) to facilitate screening by the electoral registry;
Processing: After submission, the complaint is preliminarily analyzed. If there is sufficient evidence of materiality, the Electoral Public Ministry is notified to propose appropriate legal representation.
In the case of irregular advertising on the internet, the application often redirects or guides the user to specific channels for reporting misinformation, given the complex nature and speed of propagation of digital content, which sometimes requires direct intervention with social media platforms.
Importance for the equality of the claim
The existence of an official and accessible channel like Pardal strengthens the principle of isonomy, which dictates that all candidates must compete on equal terms. Irregular advertising, often financed by undeclared resources (slush fund), creates an undue advantage that unbalances the dispute. By decentralizing supervision, transforming each voter into a fiscal potential, the Electoral Court exponentially expands its reach.
In addition to the punitive aspect, the tool plays a pedagogical and preventive role. The knowledge that any citizen can report an infraction in real time inhibits the practice of illicit conduct by campaign committees and candidates. This fosters a culture of responsibility and legality, essential for legitimizing the results of the polls.
The Pardal application is therefore consolidated not only as a technological solution, but as an auxiliary institution in guaranteeing electoral fairness. By integrating civil society in the process of monitoring advertising standards, the system reinforces transparency and popular sovereignty, ensuring that the vote is won through the debate of ideas and not through visual or economic imposition, in accordance with the constitutional dictates of the Democratic Rule of Law.
