The number of voters with higher education is growing.

247 - The Brazilian electorate grew by 5,17% in the last four years, jumping from 135,8 million voters in 2010 to 142,8 million voters, according to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE). For the first time, Brazil will have more voters with a completed higher education than illiterate voters. 

According to the report, in the October 5th elections, 8 million graduates will vote. The number of illiterate voters totals 7,4 million. In 2010, 6,2 million university graduates participated in the election, while the number of people who cannot read or write was 7,8 million. 

The Southeast Region concentrates the largest number of people eligible to vote, 62.042.794 (43,44%), followed by the Northeast, 38.269.533 (26,80%), South, 21.117.307 (14,79%), North, 10.801.178 (7,57%) and Central-West, 10.238.058 (7,17%)

Compared to the 2010 election, there was also a significant increase, with 76,75% of the total voters outside of Brazil. These voters are located in 118 countries – almost half of them in the United States.

According to the president of the TSE (Superior Electoral Court), Minister Dias Toffoli, the growth in voters outside Brazil is due to greater publicity and the opening of Brazilian consulates. “I think there has been greater dissemination of this possibility of voting abroad and an improvement in the relationship with Itamaraty (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), facilitating and expanding access for Brazilians abroad to our consulates. There has also been a large increase in the number of consulates in countries with which Brazil has diplomatic relations.”with Agência Brasil)