How the electronic voting machine is audited and tested
Brazil's electronic voting machine is tested and audited in stages. There are public security tests, integrity tests on election day and ballot box reports anyone can check. The machines are not connected to the internet, and each one prints the report for its polling station at the end of voting.
Brazil Election 2026 · Published October 11, 2026 · Updated October 25, 2026 · Source: TSE
Is the voting machine connected to the internet?
No. Electronic voting machines are not connected to the internet, which reduces the ways of accessing the device from outside during voting. This is one of the system's first safeguards, and it applies to every polling station in the country.
Because the machine does not communicate over a network, each polling station's result is made public on paper. At the close of voting, after 5 p.m. and once the last voter in line has cast a ballot, each machine prints the ballot box report with the station's totals. That paper is posted at the polling place and published by the TSE.
What tests are run before and during the election?
The voting machine goes through public security tests, in which researchers can examine the device and look for flaws. These tests take place before the election, and their purpose is to find problems while there is still time to fix them.
On election day, integrity tests check how the machine works on the day of the vote. They complement the earlier tests and show whether the device is operating as expected at that moment.
| Stage | When it happens |
|---|---|
| Public security tests | Before the election |
| Integrity tests | On election day |
| Ballot box report | At the close of voting, after 5 p.m. |
| Publication of the reports | After the official total |
How can voters check the count?
The ballot box report from each polling station is posted at the voting place and published by the TSE. In this way, anyone can compare the printed totals with the figures released, without relying on whoever reported the news.
This comparison is a form of public verification. The final total is the sum of these reports, which is why they are the basis of all checking of the count. Anyone who wants to go further can consult the TSE's open data.
If a number looks strange, the best step is to compare it with the polling station's report and consult the TSE portal, rather than sharing the information unchecked. The comparison is quick and needs no technical knowledge, since you only have to check the numbers side by side.
Who oversees the process?
The election is run by the Electoral Justice system, and the TSE publishes the results and information about the tests. Security rules and procedures are handled by the court itself, which releases the information on its portal.
For details on each test, schedule and procedure, consult the TSE portal at https://www.tse.jus.br. Brazil Election 2026 uses the figures published by the TSE and plays no role in the equipment's security.
Why does the checking have more than one layer?
No single stage guarantees everything. The tests before the election, the tests on the day, the printing of the report and its publication by the TSE work together, and each of these stages can be followed by the public.
This combination makes the checking independent. Anyone who wants to verify a result does not need to rely on a single source, because they can compare the printed report with the published total.
Sources
Superior Electoral Court (TSE): https://www.tse.jus.br
Election results, TSE: https://resultados.tse.jus.br
Frequently asked questions
Can the electronic voting machine be hacked over the internet?
No, because the machine is not connected to the internet. It records the votes on the device itself and prints the polling station's report at the end of voting.
What is the ballot box report?
It is the document each machine prints with the totals for its polling station at the end of voting, after 5 p.m. The TSE publishes these reports, and anyone can check them.
When are the voting machine tests held?
Security tests take place before the election, and integrity tests on voting day. The TSE publishes the dates and procedures on its portal.
Where can I read more about the voting machine audit?
Information about tests and security is on the TSE portal at https://www.tse.jus.br. Always check the official source before sharing any information.
Why doesn't the voting machine use the internet to send the vote?
Without an internet connection, the machine is not exposed to a network during voting. The polling station's result is recorded on the printed report, which the public can check.