Representatives are mobilizing to take measures to guarantee the right to vote in the first round of elections for followers of the religion who follow it in an orthodox way.
The reason is that this year, October 4th, the date of the first round, coincides with the celebration of Simchat Torah, one of the most important holidays in the Jewish religious calendar. Strict observance of the date imposes restrictions that prevent travel to voting locations and contact with devices such as electronic voting machines.
The Jewish holiday, whose literal meaning is “Joy of the Torah,” celebrates the completion of the annual cycle of public reading of the Torah (the five books of Moses) and the immediate beginning of a new cycle.
In 2026, the holiday ends at 6:40 pm on the 4th, after the polls close at 5 pm.
In a petition to the TSE, lawyers Mônica Rosenberg, Evane Beiguelman Kramer and Daniel Rosenhek Schor asked that some polling stations be reserved, which would remain open and receive previously registered Jewish voters, so that they could vote after the end of the holiday.
“The present petition does not intend to question the electoral calendar approved by this court, nor to request a general change in the date of the elections. What is required is the adoption of proportional administrative measures, technically delimited and previously organized, in order to prevent a specific group of Brazilian citizens from being faced with an unconstitutional choice between exercising their vote and observing their faith”, states the petition.
There will also be an online petition on the topic.
is also mobilizing to ask for the change, in addition to other members of the Jewish community, estimated at 120 thousand people in Brazil. Not all, however, follow the faith in an orthodox way.
“This is a concern of important religious leaders. If they extend the opening hours, Jews will be able to vote”,
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