Brazil votes today in a tight, tense first-round election

Brazilians vote on October 4 in the first round of a presidential election that President Lula da Silva, 80 and seeking a fourth term, calls a choice between “democracy and barbarism.” His main rival is Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is imprisoned over his attempt to seize power by force; polls show Lula with a narrow lead, and neither candidate is expected to win outright, making a runoff on October 25 likely.

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