Federal, state and district deputies who wish to change parties to compete without the risk of losing their mandate have until this Friday (3) to make the change official, the deadline for the so-called party window.
Current Executive representatives such as mayors, governors and President of the Republic have until Saturday (4) if they want to run for different positions.
Voters also need to pay attention to the deadlines to be eligible to vote in October.
Check out the main dates on the 2026 calendar, according to the Electoral Court:
April
Party window
April 3 – End of the party window, period in which federal, state and district deputies can change parties without losing their current mandate.
Discompatibilization
April 4 – Deadline for president, governors and mayors who want to run for other positions in 2026 to resign from their mandates.
Electoral domicile and affiliation
April 4 – Candidates must have their electoral domicile in the constituency in which they wish to contest. By this date they must also have their party affiliation approved in the association for which they intend to compete.
Biometric registration
April 6 – Last day for voters without valid biometric registration to request enlistment, transfer and review operations through the online service.
May
Voter registration, transfer and regularization
May 6 – Final date for requesting a voter registration card, transferring the polling place, regularizing fines and reviewing any information contained in the electoral register. Voting is mandatory from the age of 18 and optional for young people aged 16 and 17, those over 70 and illiterate people.
Urn test
May 13th to 15th – The public test to confirm the security of electoral systems and electronic voting machines will be carried out at the headquarters of the (Superior Electoral Court), in Brasília.
Crowdfunding
May 15 – Pre-candidates can start the preliminary fundraising campaign in the form of collective financing, as long as they do not make requests for votes and obey the other rules regarding electoral advertising on the internet.
June
Electoral fund
June 16 – Deadline for the TSE to disclose the amount of resources available in the electoral fund, which is supplied with public money and is used to finance campaigns across the country.
Broadcasters and pre-candidates
June 30 – A From this date onwards, radio and television stations cannot broadcast programs presented or commented on by a pre-candidate.
July
Conduct prohibited to public agents
4th of July – Public agents are prevented from making appointments, dismissals and hirings, as well as participating in the inauguration of public works.
August
Prohibition of radio and TV stations
August 4 – From this date onwards, radio and television stations cannot, in their normal programming and in their news, even in the form of a journalistic interview:
- broadcast political propaganda;
- give privileged treatment to a candidate, party, federation or coalition, including in the form of live electoral retransmissions;
- broadcast or publicize films, soap operas or any other program with an allusion or criticism aimed specifically at a candidate, party, federation or coalition, even if covertly, except journalistic programs or political debates;
Party conventions
From July 20th to August 5th – Parties and federations hold conventions to deliberate on coalitions and choose the candidates who will compete.
Registration of applications
August 15 – Maximum deadline for parties to submit candidacy registration requests to the Electoral Court.
Beginning of electoral propaganda
August 16 – Beginning of electoral propaganda on the streets and on the internet.
Free time
August 28th to October 1st – Free election hours on radio and TV stations for the first round of elections.
September
Systems sealing
September 14 – The electoral systems and verification programs developed by supervisory entities must be sealed, with the media presented by the TSE in a ceremony.
Prison
September 19 – From this date onwards, candidates cannot be arrested, except in the case of a flagrant crime.
September 29th to October 6th – Voters cannot be arrested, except in the case of a flagrant crime, in compliance with a court sentence for a non-bailable crime or due to breach of safe conduct.
October
Systems check
October 3 – The TSE promotes a ceremony to verify the vote totaling systems and ballot box files.
Transport of weapons and ammunition
October 3rd to 5th – collectors, shooters and hunters are prohibited from transporting weapons and ammunition throughout the national territory.
First round voting
October 4th – First round voting day. The sections open at 8am and close at 5pm, Brasília time.
In case of second round
If there is a second round, Free electoral propaganda will be broadcast on radio and television from October 9th to 23rd.
From the 10th, no candidate who will participate in the second round will be able to be detained or arrested, except in the case of a flagrant crime.
From the 19th, no voter may be arrested or detained, except in flagrante delicto, or due to a criminal sentence for a non-bailable crime, or for violating safe conduct.
Second round voting
October 25 – Voting in places with a second round will also be held from 8 am to 5 pm, Brasília time.
December
Diploma
December 18 – Those elected will be certified by the Electoral Court.
January 2027
Posses
January 5th and 6th – For the first time, the inauguration for the position of president of the Republic will take place on January 5th, and that of governors, on the following day. Previously, inauguration took place on January 1st.
