A Guarani-Kaiowá native Brazilian shows her electoral title. By Valter Campanato/ABr (Agência Brasil )
On October 5, Brazilians went to the ballots to elect a president, but since the candidate with the most votes did not receive more than 50% of the total, the two first contenders, first-term President Dilma Rousseff with 41.6% and Aécio Neves with 33.5% will have to face-off on October 26.
Brazilians have elected their presidents since democracy was reestablished in the country in 1982. Citizens vote for president every four years like Americans do, but there are some slight differences in the process.
The first difference is that Brazil has over nineteen political parties that can nominate a representative to run for president. As this would prove a very cumbersome process, many parties join forces, creating coligações, coalitions.
A second main difference is that in Brazil o presidente, the president, is elected based on an absolute majority of voto popular direto, direct popular vote. As seen above, a candidate might not get the absolute majority of the votes cast, so elections may take place in two separate occasions, known as eleições em dois turnos, a two-round system.
A third important difference is that voting in Brazil is mandatory. When um cidadão, a citizen, becomes 18 years old, he or she must get a título de eleitor, literally an electoral title. Citizens then use this official document every time eles vão às urnas, they go to the ballots. A Brazilian citizen cannot work for any government organization, apply for a passport, or have the equivalent of a social security number.
Now let’s use some of the sentences above to review the auxiliary verbs ter (have to), dever (should) and poder (can). Just like in English these verbs are followed by an infinitive.
1- Brasileiros têm que votar em toda a eleição. Brazilians have to vote in every election.
2- Para vencer, o candidato tem que ter mais de cinquenta por cento dos votos. To win, the candidate has to have more than 50% of the votes.
3. Os partidos devem formar coligações para serem mais fortes. Parties should form coalitions to become stronger.
4. Brasileiros não podem tirar passaporte se não votar. Brazilians cannot have a passport if they don’t vote.
5. Você não pode trabalhar para o governo sem titulo de leitor. You cannot work for the government without an electoral title.
For more practice with these auxiliary verbs, go to Lesson 12 on the intermediate Brazilian Portuguese.
