Wire reporting: (AP, via Local 10)

Brazilians voted Sunday in a presidential runoff between President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro after neither won a majority on Oct. 4^4,9,13.

Polls entering the vote showed a near tie, after Bolsonaro led the first round with about 47 percent to Lula's 45 percent, a margin of more than 2.2 million votes^4,11,13.

Lula, 80, is seeking a fourth nonconsecutive term^9,17. Bolsonaro, 45, is the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year sentence after a conviction for plotting a coup following the 2022 election^9,11.

About 159 million people were eligible, and more than 33 million did not vote in the first round^4,9,13. Voting is compulsory for most adults; stations were scheduled to open at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Brasilia time, with electronic results expected the same night^9,11,13.

Lula has campaigned on social programs, including a 15 percent increase in Bolsa Familia payments, and the Senate approved a cut in the maximum workweek from 44 to 40 hours without a pay cut^9,11. He told journalists before a Rio de Janeiro rally that voters "want to move forward. They don't want to go backward"¹⁷.

Bolsonaro has focused on crime and living costs, pledging more prison capacity and a harder line against gangs^4,12,13. He has said he would seek a pardon or amnesty for his father if elected^4,11,13.

A CNT/MDA poll cited by CNBC showed Bolsonaro ahead by 1.3 points on Saturday; MercoPress cited a Datafolha survey at 50 percent each of valid votes, and Colombia One cited a Quaest poll at 45 percent to 44 percent^11,14,17.

Lula has accused Washington of trying to sway the race; the Trump administration has denied meddling and imposed tariffs on Brazilian goods, citing Jair Bolsonaro's trial and later trade practices^4,9,16. Flavio Bolsonaro has highlighted ties to the White House and denied U.S. help⁴.

Flavio Bolsonaro is under investigation over millions of dollars he said he accepted from banker Daniel Vorcaro for a film about his father^4,9. Lula previously spent more than a year in prison on corruption convictions that were later annulled^4,9.

No candidate who finished second in a first round has won the presidency since Brazil restored direct elections in 1989^11,12. Governor runoffs were also on ballots in several states^9,11.