What the share of polling stations counted means
The share of polling stations counted shows how many electoral sections have had their ballot box report added to the TSE's official total. At 100%, every section has been added. It does not show how many votes have been counted or who is ahead, only how far the tally has progressed.
Brazil Election 2026 · Published October 11, 2026 · Source: TSE
What is a polling station counted?
A polling station is counted when its ballot box report has been added to the TSE's total. Until then, the station is still being tallied, and its votes are not yet part of the published result. Each station is added only once.
The percentage is the share of polling stations already counted out of all polling stations in the election. In the 2026 first round, for example, the count reached 100% of 499,248 polling stations counted, with the data generated on October 7, 2026.
Why is the percentage not the same as the share of votes?
Polling stations vary in size. One station may have few voters and another many. For that reason, half of the polling stations counted does not mean half of the votes. The percentage of stations counts how many have been added, not how many votes they brought in.
To see a candidate's share of the votes, look at the percentage of valid votes, which appears on the result pages. That is a different calculation, and the two numbers should not be confused. Blank and null votes are not part of that calculation.
How does the percentage change during the night?
The percentage rises as ballot box reports reach the TSE. Brazil Election 2026 updates the number every 15 seconds during the count, and the map shows the progress of each state and each municipality in near real time.
States move at different paces, because each has its own number of polling stations. By the end of the count, the percentage reaches 100% for Brazil and for each federative unit. Voters abroad also have their own polling stations, and they appear as a separate line.
| Area | Polling stations counted |
|---|---|
| Brazil | 100% of 499,248 polling stations |
| States and abroad, in the presidential election | 100% in each one |
How do you read the percentage on the result pages?
On the Brazil Election 2026 result pages, each state shows a column of polling stations counted, with the share already added. Use that column to see whether the number you are looking at can still change. A page at /presidente/sp, for example, shows the progress of the presidential election in São Paulo.
If the percentage is low, the race can still change a great deal, especially when the gap between the candidates is small. When it reaches 100%, every ballot box report has been added, and that unit's result is complete as far as the tally goes.
What confusions should you avoid when reading the percentage?
A common mistake is to think that 50% of polling stations counted means a candidate has already won half the election. It does not. The percentage counts stations added, and the outcome depends on the votes in each of them, which can differ greatly in size.
Another mistake is to compare today's percentage with that of another election. Each election has its own number of polling stations and its own counting schedule, so a direct comparison of progress says little about the result.
Sources
Election results, TSE: https://resultados.tse.jus.br
Superior Electoral Court (TSE): https://www.tse.jus.br
Frequently asked questions
Do polling stations counted mean the same as votes counted?
Not exactly. The percentage of polling stations shows how many stations have been added, not the percentage of votes. A small station weighs less in the total than a large one.
With 100% of polling stations counted, is the election over?
At 100% of polling stations counted, every ballot box report has been added and the TSE's result is the total for the election. Any appeals follow a separate procedure, described on the TSE portal at https://www.tse.jus.br.
Where does the polling stations counted percentage come from?
It comes from the TSE's official total, which adds the ballot box reports as the polling stations send them.
Where can I see the polling stations counted percentage for each state?
On Brazil Election 2026, each state page shows the column of polling stations counted. For example, the page /presidente/sp shows the progress in São Paulo.
Is the polling stations counted percentage the same as turnout?
No. The polling stations counted percentage measures the ballot box reports added. Turnout measures how many voters cast a ballot, and it appears as separate information on the result pages.