Candidate Becomes Substitute After Withdrawing from Amapá Election
A candidate who quit the race still secured a substitute seat with three votes.
1Failed Resignation Formalization
Alesson Cavalcante, a candidate for state deputy in Amapá, officially withdrew from the 2026 race on August 5. However, due to a delay in processing the request at the Superior Electoral Court, his candidacy remained active. He ultimately received only three votes, yet still secured a position as a substitute deputy.
2Legal Dispute Over Documentation
Cavalcante’s defense claims they submitted the resignation request to the party in August, but the document only reached the electoral court on October 4. The court rejected the request, citing non-compliance with official procedures. Consequently, his name remained on the ballot, despite his stated intention to abandon the political campaign.
3Proportional System Mechanics
In Brazil's proportional system, candidates do not need a minimum number of individual votes to become substitutes. Seats are allocated based on the total votes received by a party or federation. Cavalcante’s federation, which included the PV, PT, and PCdoB, secured enough votes to grant him a substitute status by default.
4Financial and Asset Disclosures
Cavalcante declared assets totaling 6.2 million Brazilian reais, primarily linked to his company, Logam, which manages medical waste. Interestingly, the company is currently listed in the federal active debt registry for an 855,000 real tax liability. He reported zero campaign spending and no donations during his brief, inactive candidacy period.
5Widespread Phenomenon in Small States
This situation is not unique to Amapá. In Roraima and Acre, several candidates with ten or fewer votes also became substitutes. These states have smaller populations, meaning fewer votes are required to reach the electoral quotient. This systemic quirk often results in candidates with minimal engagement holding reserve legislative positions nationwide.
6Case Study: Terezinha in Acre
Terezinha, a merchant from Acre, became a substitute for the third time after receiving only six votes. She spent 10,000 reais on her campaign, funded by a private donation. Despite her repeated attempts to secure office, she has failed to win a seat in previous municipal and state legislative elections.
7High Costs per Vote
Some candidates reported extremely high costs per vote due to low turnout. Leticia Gomes from Roraima spent 70,000 reais for eight votes, resulting in a cost of 8,750 reais per vote. Her social media presence remained minimal, with most posts receiving fewer than twelve likes throughout the entire campaign period.
8Lack of Accountability
Several candidates, including Ellen Trajano and Damiana Guerreira, failed to submit their campaign financial reports to the electoral court. Trajano admitted she lacked the time to manage the paperwork and expressed disillusionment with the political process, stating she does not intend to run for public office in any future elections.
9Systemic Implications for Parties
The proportional system aims to strengthen political parties rather than individual candidates. However, the inclusion of inactive or low-engagement candidates as substitutes highlights potential flaws in the current legislative framework. These cases demonstrate how party-led vote distribution can inadvertently elevate individuals who did not actively campaign for the position.
Original article: Estadão — Candidate Becomes Substitute After Withdrawing from Amapá Election