Montes Claros: Over 283,000 Voters Registered for 2026 Elections

In Montes Claros, a total of 283,455 individuals are eligible to vote in the upcoming 2026 Elections, according to data released by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) on Monday, May 20th. This number positions the city as having the sixth-largest electorate in Minas Gerais, following Belo Horizonte, Uberlândia, Contagem, Juiz de Fora, and Betim. The first round of this year's elections is scheduled for October 4th, where citizens will elect the President, 27 governors, 54 senators, and federal and state deputies. The second round is set for October 25th. Nationally, the Brazilian electorate has grown by 1.4% since 2022, reaching 158.7 million voters. In Montes Claros, 54% of voters are female, mirroring the national trend where women constitute the majority of the electorate. Specifically, 83,877,126 women are eligible to vote nationwide, representing 52.84% of the total. The age group with the highest number of voters in Montes Claros is 40 to 44 years old, with 29,433 registered voters. Regarding educational attainment, the data shows 8,093 illiterate voters, 11,955 who can read and write, 41,357 with incomplete primary education, 14,807 with complete primary education, 41,100 with incomplete secondary education, 101,973 with complete secondary education, 16,123 with incomplete higher education, and 48,035 with complete higher education, with 12 cases not reported. Of the 283,455 eligible voters in Montes Claros, 250,200 have mandatory voting, while 33,255 have optional voting. Mandatory voting applies to Brazilians over 18, with exceptions for illiterates, 16- and 17-year-olds, and those over 70. Voters who miss an election must justify their absence within 60 days via the e-Título app to avoid fines, which can range from 3% to 10% of a base value and may be increased based on economic status. Failure to vote and justify absence in three consecutive elections can lead to restrictions on obtaining passports, identity cards, and participating in public service. The TSE also noted that individuals declaring poverty are exempt from fines.