published on 25.09.2022 03:55

(Credit: Minervino Junior/CB/DA Press)

Elections to the Chamber of Deputies will determine much more than the list of Brazilians elected parliamentarians. It will also indicate which parties will have access to party and election funds, which will be eligible for free advertising space on radio and television, and which subtitles will take the lead in the National Congress.

To improve the selection of parliamentarians and the qualifications of parties, the electoral legislation has established a number of mechanisms. This list includes rules such as the restrictive clause, the formation of federations and coalitions, in addition to the electoral coefficient and the party coefficient.

The barrier clause is important to avoid the appearance of rental subtitles or subtitles without ideological and programmatic identity. This is an incentive to build stronger parties, which experts say makes it easier for voters to identify the policies and ideologies that candidates stand for.

Another positive aspect of the barrier clause, or productivity, is the greater ability of governments to negotiate agreements with parliamentary blocs.

Understanding the mechanism of proportional elections, which determines the deputies who will be elected, is not a trivial task. But, in a simplistic way, we can say that this type of election guarantees that all the votes counted will be taken into account, if not the election of the chosen candidate, then the party will form a large bench.

The calculation that determines the number of votes required for an election is the electoral coefficient. The number of seats each party will be entitled to will depend on the party coefficient.

understand how it works

barrier clause

The regulation, effective in 2022, establishes a minimum performance – a minimum number of votes.
for each party – for subtitles to have access to congressional leadership, campaigning and
party fund money.

To pass the point, a party must elect at least 11 federal deputies in at least 9 states (or DF).

Another way to get around the clause is when the legend has at least
2% of valid votes nationwide. In addition, the party must receive at least 1% of valid votes in at least nine constituent entities of the Federation.

In terms of votes, this means, roughly speaking, that each party would need 2.4 million votes to overcome the barrier clause. This number takes into account 20% abstentions and 5% blank and zero votes, the averages recorded in the last election.

The efficiency clause aims to consolidate the representation of the Brazilian party, which currently has 23 parties in the Chamber of Deputies. In the next election, parties will need to increase the number of votes in order to comply with the rule. In 2026, it will be necessary to reach the figure of 2.5% or 13 congressmen, in 2030 3% or 15 federal deputies.

Coalitions and federations

This year, for the first time, parties were able to form federations. This is an alternative to coalitions banned since 2017 in proportional disputes. For most positions – mayor,
governor, senator and president of the republic – the parties can still form a coalition.

Approved in 2021, the federation is an alliance of two or more parties acting as one, with a common charter and program, registered with the TSE. The federation must exist for at least four years.

During this period, the parties must act together throughout the country, in unified action.
also in the National Congress. Unlike former coalitions, federations cannot be
closed shortly after the election. While parties retain operational and financial autonomy, the obligation to stand as a bloc in Congress or the next municipal elections represents a major change in model.

selective coefficient

The electoral quotient is obtained by dividing the total number of valid votes in the election of a deputy of the federation by the number of seats to which each unit of the federation is entitled in the Chamber of Deputies. The same formula applies to state meetings.

For example, if a state is entitled to 10 seats in the House of Deputies, and the actual votes for a federal deputy were 1 million, each federal seat will be filled by a factor of 100,000 votes.

party coefficient

The party coefficient determines the number of seats each party or federation will be entitled to in parliament.
Chamber of Deputies or in state assemblies. To get this number, all the votes of candidates from the party, federation or legend are added up. It is then divided by the selective coefficient. For example, if a party received 150,000 votes with an electoral coefficient of 100,000 votes, then the party coefficient would be 1.5 (150/100). That is, the party elects its most voted deputy. The remaining 50,000 votes may or may not guarantee second place.

Under the rules in force for 2022, all candidates must receive at least 10% of the electoral coefficient.