07/10/2024 – 16:22
The municipality of Inhaúma, in the central region of Minas Gerais (MG), was the protagonist of an unusual situation after the counting of votes in the elections this Sunday, 6. Voters in the municipality of Minas Gerais, with 6,239 inhabitants according to the IBGE 2022 Census, gave exactly the same number of votes for mayoral candidates Zula (Republicans) and Carlinhos (Republicans).
Each of them received 2,434 votes, which placed them in a numerical tie, with 50% of the valid votes, since they were the only competitors for the position of municipal Executive. The election in the city, located 88 kilometers from the capital Belo Horizonte (MG), had 12.96% abstention, 1.41% white votes and 1.83% invalid votes – the total was 5,031 votes.
Although cases like this are rare, the Electoral Court provides a rule for what to do when ties occur. As described in article 110 of the Electoral Code, “in the event of a tie, the oldest candidate will be elected”.
As Carlinhos is 46 years old, and Zula, 62, the Republican candidate was declared elected and will assume the Minas Gerais mayorship for the next four years.
Draws in 2020
Although it is a rare episode, it is not the first time it has happened in Brazilian elections. In the 2020 election, for example, three cities had to have the result decided by age criteria. The cases occurred in small municipalities, and in two of them only two candidates were running for the position.
In the interior of Paraíba, in the municipality of Caraúbas, Silvano Dudu (União Brasil), who was seeking re-election, tied with Nerivan (MDB). Both had 1,761 votes. A third candidate had just 2.6% of the valid votes. Due to his age, 52 years old, compared to Nerivan’s 34, Silvano Dudu was elected to head the municipality.
In Jardinópolis, (SC), the dispute was decided by just 57 days of age difference between Mauro Risso (MDB) and Antoninho (PT) – the older MDB candidate was elected. In another southern city, Kaloré (PR), Edmilson Luis (PL) received 1,186 votes, as did his competitor Rita de Cássia (PSD) – the candidate is 17 years older than his opponent, which guaranteed him victory.
There were also 50 cases in which the election was decided by less than 10 votes difference between the elected mayor and the second place candidate. In the second round of 2020, the closest dispute was in Mauá (SP), between Marcelo Oliveira (PT), who won 50.74% of the valid votes, while Átila Jacomussi (at the time in the PSB) totaled 49.26% – a difference of 2,676 votes. The two went to the second round, and Oliveira was elected.
This year, the duo met again at the polls, but with a greater margin between first place, Oliveira (45.13%), and Atila (currently in União, with 35.56%), totaling a difference of 19,816 votes. Even so, the dispute will be decided in the second round, at the end of this month. Third place, Sergeant Simões (PL), got 10.20%.
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