TSE Must Rule Whether Garotinho’s Votes Stay in Rio Count

Overview

• The PSOL branch in Rio filed a petition at the TSE on Tuesday asking judges to reject Anthony Garotinho’s post‑election withdrawal and keep the roughly 274,411 votes he received counted in the first‑round totals.
• TSE President Kassio Nunes Marques has already ordered that Garotinho’s votes be included in the official percentages while the full court weighs the case.
• Minister Floriano Marques gave the Procuradoria‑Geral Eleitoral two days to comment and the PGE has recommended accepting Garotinho’s withdrawal and annulling his votes.
• If the TSE accepts the withdrawal and annuls Garotinho’s votes, Douglas Ruas would exceed 50 percent and be declared elected in the first round, but if the court keeps the votes counted a second‑round runoff between Ruas and Eduardo Paes will go ahead.
• The dispute turns on electoral precedent and voter intent because past TSE decisions have sometimes refused post‑vote withdrawals that would change results and this ruling could set a lasting rule on whether courts may alter certified tallies after voting.