How the proportional system works for deputies
Federal, state and district deputies are elected under the proportional system. Seats are divided among parties and federations according to the valid votes each receives, and then go to the most-voted candidates in each one. To be elected, each candidate needs at least 10% of the electoral quotient in nominal votes for the seats won through the party quotient; for leftover seats, the requirement is 20%.
Brazil Election 2026 · Published October 11, 2026 · Updated October 25, 2026 · Source: TSE
What is the proportional system?
Under the proportional system, seats do not go automatically to whoever has the most votes in the race. They are divided among parties and federations in proportion to the votes each one receives.
In the 2026 Chamber of Deputies, all 513 seats are already set, with 100% of polling stations counted. The PL won 121 federal deputies, the largest delegation, and the table shows the five largest.
The system also organizes the Chamber as a whole: each party or federation has its own delegation, made up of the elected members from its list in each unit. The delegations are a picture of that proportional division.
| Party | Seats |
|---|---|
| PL | 121 |
| PT | 70 |
| União | 46 |
| PSD | 43 |
| PP | 41 |
Who is elected within each party?
After the division, each party's or federation's seats go to that list's most-voted candidates. The votes cast for a candidate and the votes cast for the party count toward the division.
A candidate's vote total does not guarantee a seat on its own. The seat also depends on the total number of seats the party or federation won.
When a party wins few seats, the ranking of its candidates by votes decides who gets them, not just the total votes the party list received.
What is the minimum vote to be elected?
The electoral quotient is the total of valid votes divided by the number of seats. To be elected, a candidate needs at least 10% of the electoral quotient in nominal votes, meaning votes cast directly for that candidate.
This requirement differs from the performance clause, which applies to parties rather than to each candidate. To understand the rule for parties, see https://eleicoes2026brasil.com/guias/clausula-de-desempenho.
Why do coalitions not apply to proportional races?
Since 2020, parties may not form coalitions in proportional elections for deputy. Coalitions are still allowed in majoritarian races, for president, governor and senator.
Parties may, however, form a party federation, provided for in Law 14.208/2021. A federation brings parties together for at least four years and acts as a single party in the proportional count.
In practice, anyone who wants to form an alliance for the deputy election can do so only through a federation, not a coalition. This difference changes how each party's votes are added together.
How are state and district deputies elected?
State and district deputies follow the same proportional system as federal deputies, but the seats are contested within each state or within the Federal District. The Chamber of Deputies, in turn, brings together the federal deputies from all units.
In each case, the count of seats per party or federation is done separately, using the votes of that unit alone. The Chamber results are at https://eleicoes2026brasil.com/deputados.
Sources
Electoral Code (Law 4.737/1965): https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l4737compilado.htm
Superior Electoral Court: https://www.tse.jus.br
Frequently asked questions
How many votes does a deputy need to be elected?
There is no fixed number. A candidate needs at least 10% of the electoral quotient in nominal votes, and that quotient depends on the total valid votes and the number of seats.
What is a party federation?
A party federation is a union of parties for at least four years, governed by Law 14.208/2021. In the proportional race, it acts as if it were a single party.
How many seats does the Chamber of Deputies have?
The Chamber has 513 seats. In 2026, all were set in the first round, with 100% of polling stations counted, according to TSE data.
Do deputies have a runoff?
No. Federal, state and district deputy seats are decided in the first round, and the runoff exists only for president and governor. The 2026 runoff covers only those two races.
Does an individual vote alone decide the election?
Not entirely. A seat also depends on the number of seats the party or federation won, in addition to the minimum of 10% of the electoral quotient in nominal votes.