Douglas Ruas Declared Governor After TSE Annulls Garotinho Votes

Overview

• The Tribunal Superior Eleitoral excluded the 274,411 votes cast for Anthony Garotinho, recalculated valid ballots and declared Douglas Ruas governor with about 50.9 percent of the vote.
• The PSD, led by Eduardo Paes, argues that counting Garotinho’s votes would have denied any candidate an absolute majority and therefore a second round must be held.
• Douglas Ruas met with Supreme Court minister Cristiano Zanin to discuss the PSD’s petition, a meeting reported on Tuesday that takes place while the case moves through judicial channels.
• The legal process now awaits an opinion from the Advocacia-Geral da União and a referral to the Procuradoria-Geral da República before the STF relator rules on whether a new vote is required.
• Practical questions cloud any new poll because electoral authorities have a December 6 supplementary-election slot that Paes cites as an option while minister Nunes Marques has warned that sealed and prepared voting machines limit feasible dates.