Can people in prison vote? What about the political rights of those who are arrested?

The answer to the question in the title is no. Prisoners lose their political rights when they have a final conviction. The role that can be taken on by them is to make family and friends aware of the importance of voting, as stated by Flavia Maria, leader of the cooperative supported by Humanitas360 in São Paulo: “It’s our job, it’s our duty today.  We can’t vote, but what can the inmate do? Guide his family to vote with conscience, vote for those who rescue values from invisible people.” Even after serving their sentence, former inmates are still subject to a fine, which must be paid in cash, in order for all their civil rights to be regularized. In our Handbook for Retained Offenders you can access information about fines and other criminal matters free of charge. 

Brazil is a country known for its democratic representation. The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) considers that people under temporary custody, without a final conviction, and teenagers under socio-educational measures or under temporary internment, who are older than 16 and younger than 21, have the right to vote. “I would say to people today: don’t vote null, exercise your right as a citizen, make that vote worthwhile. Vote for me, vote for so many other people who can’t do that” says Carolina, a member of the São Paulo social cooperative. 

Women from the São Paulo social cooperative left a message about this crucial moment in Brazilian democracy, watch: 

In portuguese