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Bolsonaro Challenges Election Legitimacy Citing Voting Machine Malfunctions

Bolsonaro Speaks After Being Defeated By Lula in Presidential Runoff

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Devan Bugbee Contributor
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Following weeks of refusing to concede the election, Brazilian President Jair Bolonsaro filed to contest the results Tuesday, citing voter machine malfunctions.

Bolsonaro argued that the election was plagued with malfunctioning voting machines and that any vote cast this way should be annulled, CNN reported. Analysts concluded that if these votes were negated, it would purportedly give Bolsonaro the victory. Election authorities told Bolsonaro that since the same machines were used in the first election, prior to their run-off, where no candidate won a majority, his team would need to amend the complaint to include both elections in order for it to make its way through the courts, according to the outlet’s affiliate, CNN Brazil.

The Supreme Electoral Court gave Bolsonaro 24 hours to audit the elections, or else it will reject his party’s claims, Fox News reported. (RELATED: Syrian Democratic Leader Begs US To Act As Turkey Gears Up For Invasion)

Following the election, Brazil has been riddled with protesters and truckers blocking freeways, challenging the legitimacy of the election, Reuters reported.

Bolsonaro has refused to concede the election following the results that put leftist opponent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ahead. Bolsonaro reportedly lost by less than 2 points, with Lula leading Bolsanaro by around 2 million votes while nearly 4 million votes were nullified, according to the Superior Electoral Court.