The essentials
Flávio Bolsonaro led the first round 47.03% to 45.16%, and no runner-up has ever won from second place.
Flávio Bolsonaro finished first in Brazil's first-round presidential vote with 47.03% of valid votes, ahead of Lula at 45.16%. The gap translated into more than 2.2 million additional votes for Bolsonaro than for Lula.
Turnout left a substantial share of the electorate outside the count, as more than 33 million registered voters did not vote in the first round.
The result set up the runoff between the two candidates. Brazilian presidential history offers a specific reference point: no candidate has won the presidency after finishing second in the first round. Lula enters the second round from that position.
The tally was produced by Brazil's fully electronic voting system, with results published within hours. The reporting does not break down the results by region or explain the reasons behind the abstention figure.
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Second place has historically not translated into presidential victory
The first-round tally placed Flávio Bolsonaro ahead of Lula in valid votes, with a margin of more than 2.2 million ballots. Brazilian electoral history offers a notable reference point: no presidential candidate has won after finishing second in the first round. For Lula, the runoff therefore begins from a position that no previous runner-up has converted into victory.
Over 33 million registered voters stayed away from first-round polls
More than 33 million registered voters did not cast ballots in the first round, a figure that sits alongside a result separated by a narrow gap in valid votes. From this lens, the nonvoting group represents a large pool of potential voters whose choices in the runoff could shift the balance. The reporting does not indicate how these voters are likely to decide.