O Consulate General of Brazil in Faro want them «60 to 70 thousand Brazilians» residing in its area of jurisdiction to vote in that country's Presidential Election, whose "first round" (first round) is scheduled for October 2nd.
The Consulate General, one of three in Portugal, covers a vast area that encompasses the Algarve, but also a large part of the Alentejo, namely the districts of Beja, Évora and the Municipalities of Alcácer do Sal, Grândola, Santiago do Cacém and Sines. , belonging to the district of Setúbal.
José Estanislau do Amaral Souza Neto, new consul general in the Algarve, admitted, in an interview with Sul Informação, that only a small part of Brazilians residing in the south of the country are registered at their consulate. «It is a relatively small number, around 2 thousand».
However, he stressed, “this year we are forecasting a higher number. In the first week of May, we will have the voter registration. Until then, Brazilians who are here can either register or those who have registered elsewhere, can change their registration here. We are predicting an increase».
The Consulate General therefore appeals to Brazilians from the Algarve and Alentejo to register in Faro, so that the number of voters increases.
Of all elections - federal, state and presidential -, Brazilian citizens residing abroad can only vote to elect the President of the Republic.
Furthermore, in that country, voting is mandatory, so, even if residing abroad, those who do not vote will have to justify why they do not do so.
For those who do not fulfill their electoral obligation, or justify themselves, “there are sanctions ranging from not being able to obtain a passport, to small fines. But there are also administrative sanctions: those who do not vote cannot participate in the public contest or cannot be a civil servant", explained consul José Souza Neto, in his interview with Sul Informação.
On the other hand, despite using electronic voting machines, voting takes place in person.
These are more reasons for Brazilians to register at the Consulate General of Faro, in order to exercise their right – and their obligation.
The consul clarifies that all Brazilian citizens residing in the south of Portugal will have to come to Faro to vote. Even if they live in Évora, it is in the Algarve capital that they will have to exercise their electoral obligation.
“It's a Sunday, not a weekday. Votes are already on Sunday thinking about it. It's only two hours to go», from Évora to Faro, stresses the diplomat. For a Portuguese it's far, for a Brazilian…it's right there.
“The person is exercising his right. In the past, there was no consulate here, those who lived here had to go to Lisbon».
«We have electronic voting machines, the result comes out immediately when the polls close». Taking into account the hours difference between Portugal and that country in South America and the fact that the Brazilian territory is very large, it will only be many hours after the polls close here that the results will be known. But it is still a very fast system for counting votes.
“I have participated in elections in the past, abroad, it is a very fast process. The results are only released after the voting ends in Brazil», emphasizes José Estanislau Souza Neto.
“These elections are important for us Brazilians. Voting in Brazil is not only a right, but also an obligation. So, we are insisting that people do not justify their absence, that they come and vote, exercise their right”, concluded the consul general.
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