Can Poll Workers Take Your Phone at Brazil's Elections?
Listen to the story
With Brazil's 2026 elections only one day away, officials are explaining the rules about mobile phones at polling stations.
Many voters want to know if a poll worker can take away their phone when they go to vote.
According to election guidance, phones are not allowed inside the voting booth, the private space where people cast their ballot.
If a voter brings a phone into the booth, a poll worker may confiscate it for a short time.
The phone is usually returned after the person has finished voting.
This rule exists to protect the secrecy of the vote, so no one can prove how they voted or show it to someone else.
Taking photos or videos inside the booth is not allowed, since this could be used to pressure or pay voters.
Brazil uses an electronic voting machine for its elections, which is simple and quick to use.
There is also a fixed order of voting, since voters choose candidates for several different positions.
To help people understand the process, election authorities have published a cheat sheet about the 2026 elections.
This guide explains both what voters can and cannot do, as well as the order in which choices appear on the machine.
Officials hope that clear information like this will help the first round run smoothly tomorrow.
Voters are encouraged to read the guide beforehand so they know the rules before arriving at the polling station.
Vocabulary10 words
- poll worker
- a person who helps run the voting place
- voting booth
- a small private space used to vote
- ballot
- the official choice a voter makes
- confiscate
- to take something away for a period of time
- secrecy of the vote
- the rule that a vote must stay private
- electronic voting machine
- a small computer used to record votes
- order of voting
- the fixed sequence for choosing different candidates
- cheat sheet
- a short guide with helpful information
- polling station
- the place where people go to vote
- first round
- the first stage of an election
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A poll worker may confiscate it temporarily 2. To protect the secrecy of the vote 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
With Brazil's 2026 elections only one day away, officials are explaining the rules about _____ at polling stations.
Many voters want to know if a poll worker can take away their _____ when they go to vote.
According to election guidance, phones are not allowed inside the voting _____.
If a voter brings a phone into the booth, a poll worker may _____ it for a short time.
The phone is usually _____ after the person has finished voting.
This rule exists to protect the _____ of the vote.
Taking photos or videos inside the booth is not allowed, since this could be used to _____ voters.
Brazil uses an electronic voting _____ for its elections.
There is also a fixed order of _____, since voters choose candidates for several positions.
To help people understand the process, authorities have published a _____ about the 2026 elections.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think phones are banned inside voting booths?
- Do you agree with the rule allowing poll workers to confiscate phones? Why or why not?
- How might secrecy of the vote protect democracy?
- What other rules do you think are important during elections?
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