Vote

Vote-counting underway in Brazil's presidential election

Vote counting is now underway in Brazil's presidential election after polls closed at 5 p.m. on Sunday, local time.

Pre-election polls showed a tight race between leftist and incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. The focus is on whether either candidate can win a majority of votes needed to win the election.

Voting started in the election on Sunday morning.

In Brazil, electronic voting is used nationwide. Voters in the largest city of Sao Paulo visited polling stations and cast their ballots by entering numbers into machines.

Pre-election polls showed that among the 12 candidates, Lula and Bolsonaro, the oldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, were running neck-and-neck.

The results of the election are expected to become clear before midnight.

If none of the candidates reaches a majority, a runoff vote will be held on October 25.

During the campaign, Lula pledged to correct the wealth gap, while Bolsonaro vowed his close alignment with the US administration of President Donald Trump.

As the Trump administration strengthens its involvement in South America, right-wing candidates have won a series of presidential elections in the region, leading to closer ties with the United States.

Attention is focused on whether a change of government from leftist rule will take place as well in Brazil, which has the largest economy and population in the region.