Brazil Candidate Romeu Zema Under Investigation for Voting with Phone
Presidential candidate Romeu Zema faces a regional court investigation after being filmed using his cellphone inside a voting booth during Sunday's election.
On Sunday, October 4, 2026, Brazilian presidential candidate and former Minas Gerais Governor Romeu Zema became the subject of a formal electoral investigation after being caught on camera using his cellphone inside a voting booth. The incident occurred around 9:00 a.m. at the Delfim Moreira State School in Araxá, a city in the interior of Minas Gerais. Television cameras captured Zema holding the device and looking at it while standing directly in front of the electronic voting machine.
Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE) strictly prohibits voters from bringing cellphones, cameras, recording equipment, or any telecommunication devices into the voting booth. The rule, codified in the country's electoral laws, is designed to protect ballot secrecy and prevent vote-buying schemes, where voters are pressured to provide photographic proof of their choices to third parties. Under Brazilian law, voters must turn off their mobile devices and hand them over to poll workers before entering the booth.
Following the incident, the Regional Electoral Court of Minas Gerais (TRE-MG) confirmed it will investigate Zema's actions. Under Article 312 of the Brazilian Electoral Code, violating the secrecy of the vote is a criminal offense that carries penalties of up to two years of detention. The regional court noted that all poll workers had been explicitly trained on the cellphone ban.
Zema, representing the center-right Novo party, downplayed the incident during a press conference. He claimed he was carrying his phone out of habit and that poll workers failed to remind him of the restriction. "I walk around with my phone all day; it's almost like a finger," Zema told reporters, adding that he did not take any photos or use the device to record his vote. He stated he used a traditional paper cheat sheet to remember his candidates' numbers.
The investigation adds a legal complication for Zema, who has struggled to gain traction in the Brazil presidential election 2026. Recent polling from PoderData showed him capturing just 1% of the valid vote intentions. While the investigation is unlikely to immediately derail his political career, it underscores the strict regulatory environment overseen by Brazil's electoral courts, which wield significant power over candidates and political campaigns.