What is prohibited during election week?

Since we are close to the elections, let's find out together what is prohibited during election week.

We are already in the countdown to the 2022 Elections. Who has already decided who they will vote for this year?

And with just a few days left until Brazilians go to the polls to exercise democracy and choose those responsible for governing our politics for the next 4 years, the entire country is already beginning the typical movement for one of the most important events of the year.

But did you know that this preparation goes far beyond setting up schools that become polling stations during voting weekends?

In case you are not aware of this, know that there are some situations that are strictly prohibited during the week before voting – both in the first and second rounds.

And that’s what we’re going to talk about throughout today’s content. 

Here, we will discover together everything that is prohibited during election week so that you are aware of all these prohibitions.

What is prohibited during election week? 

You may have already heard about some prohibitions, as it is common for newspapers to report such situations to inform the population.

But I bet this information must have gone unnoticed, right? No problem!

Next, we'll cover what's prohibited during election week and why these prohibitions came into effect.

No voter may be detained or arrested.

This is perhaps the ban best known to the general public, as it tends to divide opinions whenever it is announced in the week before the elections.

When there are 5 days left until election Sunday, no voter can be detained or arrested.

But even this typical election-year ban has its exceptions. 

In cases where the crime occurs in flagrante delicto or a criminal arrest resulting in conviction for a crime that is considered non-bailable or for failure to comply with a safe conduct.

And contrary to what many people may think, this ban does not expire at the end of the election on Sunday. This ban only ends on Tuesday, two days after the vote takes place.

The dissemination of free electoral propaganda

Who likes to follow the famous election campaigns?

Despite being something necessary for people who want to understand – and even know – the proposals of a certain candidate, these times are far from being unanimous.

And for those who can't stand these schedules any longer – which are mandatory on radio and open TV – this could be good news.

This year, the last day for the free electoral campaign is October 29th, 3 days before the vote.

Furthermore, events such as debates on TV and radio are also prohibited.

And the very next day – with 2 days to go until the vote – is the last day for paid advertising in the written press and the reproduction, on the internet, of printed newspapers with electoral propaganda.

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The marketing of alcoholic beverages 

This is another controversial decision that may bother a lot of people.

To prevent the abuse of alcoholic beverages on the eve of and on the day of voting from disrupting the routine of those who are going to vote, there is a ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages on the day before and on the day of voting.

The good news for those who enjoy a beer is that this is not a practice adopted throughout the country. While there are states that take this 'dry law' seriously, others end up not taking this prohibition into consideration.

The famous 'exit polls' practice

And finally, we have reached election day. And with the arrival of the big day, we also have some prohibitions.

Unlike the practice of 'dry law' that we mentioned in the previous topic – which is only valid in some states – this is one of the prohibitions that is valid throughout the national territory.

'Exit polling' – which consists of approaching voters in an attempt to influence their vote through persuasion or the delivery of gifts, such as t-shirts and caps – is a practice strictly prohibited on election day.

Furthermore, handing out politicians' famous 'santinhos' is also prohibited. However, it still occurs in much of Brazil.

Has anyone gone to vote and found the street outside their polling place covered in these types of propaganda?

Using cell phones when voting 

This is a ban that has just come out of the oven and should come into practice for the first time in this year's elections.

Although it is not a relatively new practice – since in previous elections there were already restrictions on the use of cell phones in the voting booth – in the 2022 Elections, a ban on the use of cell phones by voters was instituted.

Therefore, the poll workers who will participate in the elections were trained to inform about this prohibition and, if necessary, ask the voter in question to leave the device in a certain place before voting.

In addition to these prohibitions that we have already mentioned here, there are those that are classic every year and that continue to be prohibited by the Electoral Court, such as loudspeaker demonstrations at voting time and the holding of crowds, motorcades and rallies in support of a specific candidate or party.

Conclusion

Now that you know everything that is prohibited during election week, it is easier to pay attention to these rules and, therefore, not disrespect the law and electoral justice.

And as we already mentioned here in the text, even though some of these prohibitions don't make much sense to us, each one of them was created for a reason.

But in general, they all have a common purpose: to help maintain order during such an important event for Brazilian democracy, both on the official voting day and in the days leading up to the election.

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