Pact for Democracy warns about risks of a bill on printed voting

The bill mandates the printing of votes and their placement in physical ballot boxes, as well as a manual audit after each election, without prior tests or adjustments

TSE (Tribunal Superior Eleitoral) já firmou acordo com entidades e organismos interessados em formar missões para acompanhar as eleições de outubro. (Foto: José Cruz/Agência Brasil)

Organizations from the Pact for Democracy expressed concern on Tuesday (10) about Bill 1169/15, which proposes significant changes to the Electoral Law, including the implementation of printed voting and the manual recount of all votes. The bill, which will be voted on in the Constitution and Justice Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, disregards the proper legislative process and could undermine confidence in electronic voting machines, a system globally recognized for its security and efficiency.

The bill mandates the printing of votes and their placement in physical ballot boxes, as well as a manual audit after each election, without prior tests or adjustments. The Pact for Democracy warns that the proposal allows for disinformation, unfounded challenges to the results, and risks of electoral manipulation and corruption.

Brazil’s electronic voting system is considered a global model of security, and the proposed changes represent a step backward, jeopardizing the integrity of elections and democracy. “We cannot allow disinformation to destroy confidence in the electoral process.” Say the organizations.

Bill 1169/15 must undergo extensive debate before any decision is made. The proposal is seen as an attempt to undermine democracy, which has faced attacks in recent years. Rejecting the bill is essential to ensuring the continuity of safe and reliable elections in the country.

The note is signed by:

• Agência Ambiental Pick-upau
• A Tenda das Candidatas
• Associação Brazil Office | Washington Brazil Office
• CESE – Coordenadoria Ecumênica de Serviço
• CEDENPA – Centro de Estudos e Defesa do Negro do Pará
• Conectas Human Rights
• Delibera Brasil
• FAOR – Fórum da Amazônia Oriental
• FADDH – Frente Ampla Democrática pelos Direitos Humanos
• Instituto Democracia e Sustentabilidade
• Instituto Democracia em Xeque
• Instituto EcoVida
• Instituto Não Aceito Corrupção
• INESC
• Nossas
• Observatório Feminista do Nordeste
• Plataforma dos Movimentos Sociais por Outro Sistema Político
• PNBE – Pensamento Nacional das Bases Empresariais
• Transparência Brasil
• Transparência Eleitoral
• Transparência Internacional – Brasil
• Transparência Partidária
• Teia de Criadores