The link between abstention, null votes, and the criminalization of politics.
The results of the supplementary elections held last Sunday, involving 1,5 million voters in 20 municipalities across nine Brazilian states, give a clear indication of the consequences of the campaign to criminalize politics, orchestrated in Brazil in recent years.
The results of the supplementary elections held last Sunday, involving 1,5 million voters in 20 municipalities across nine Brazilian states, give a clear idea of the consequences of the campaign to criminalize politics, orchestrated in Brazil in recent years.
The data is staggering. The fact that more than half of voters did not go to vote, or when they did, they annulled their vote or voted blank, is a clear demonstration of the harm done to politics in Brazil by the actions of vigilante judges and a coup-mongering media in Brazilian public life.
Together, they ruined our economy, poisoned politics, and led Brazil into a dead end.
In Teresópolis, RJ, voter abstention reached 34,52%. Among those who did vote, 4,3% cast blank votes and 17,78% annulled their votes, resulting in a total of 55% of votes lost to democracy.
In Ipatinga, MG, the abstention rate was 31,71%, the percentage of blank votes was 5,06%, and the percentage of null votes was 17,33%, totaling more than 53% of wasted votes.
In the state of Tocantins, where the election for governor is still ongoing, the abstention rate was 30,14%, blank votes 2,6%, and null votes 17,13%. In other words, almost 48% of the votes were lost again.
Who will benefit if the trend of abstention and invalid votes in the 20 municipalities continues in the October elections?
This means that a candidate can win the first round with 30% of the valid votes. And that any radical candidate could compete in the second round with only 10% of the valid votes.
Voters should think very carefully before deciding not to go to the polls, to cast a blank vote, or to spoil their ballot.
What legitimacy will an election in Brazil have without Lula present and with the majority of the people not expressing their opinions or casting a blank vote? None.
It is necessary for the entire society, political parties and unions, organized movements and communities to examine this data and see that we are on the brink of the abyss, and that it won't be long before we are all swallowed by it if we don't act now.
What is the way out of this? The awareness that the only viable alternative is politics, fighting for the immediate freedom of President Lula, his participation in the elections, as the only living leader capable of reunifying and rebuilding the Brazilian nation.
* This is an opinion article, the responsibility of the author, and does not reflect the opinion of Brasil 247.