President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a decree authorizing the Brazilian Armed Forces to support the 2026 national elections.

The move is intended to ensure the integrity of the democratic process by securing voting sites and the tabulation of results. Given the scale of Brazil's electoral geography, military logistics are often utilized to transport ballot boxes to remote regions.

Decree No. 13.073 [1] authorizes the military to act nationwide to guarantee voting, tabulate results, and provide necessary logistical support. The decree was signed on Monday and published in the Diário Oficial da União on Tuesday [2].

President Lula issued the order alongside Defense Minister José Múcio and Minister of the Institutional Security Office Marcos Antonio Amaro dos Santos [1]. While the authorization is nationwide, the specific locations and time periods for military deployment will be defined by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) [1].

The decree focuses on the technical and logistical requirements of the election. The Armed Forces will assist in the distribution of electronic voting machines and the security of the counting process to ensure a transparent transition of power.

There is some variation in reporting regarding the scope of military involvement. While Decree 13.073 [1] covers the national 2026 elections, other reports indicate a separate Decree 13.028/2026 signed by Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin, which limited military logistical support specifically to supplemental elections in the state of Roraima [1].

The administration said that the involvement of the military is a supportive measure to maintain order and efficiency during the polling period. The TSE remains the primary authority in coordinating these efforts to ensure the military remains in a subordinate, logistical role.

“Decree No. 13.073 authorizes the military to act nationwide to guarantee voting.”

The authorization of the Armed Forces for the 2026 elections reflects the Brazilian government's strategy to prevent logistical failures and security breaches in a highly polarized political environment. By placing the military under the coordination of the Superior Electoral Court, the administration seeks to balance the need for operational security with the necessity of maintaining civilian control over the electoral process.