Limit for 2018 campaign spending in Brazil disclosed

Brazil’s electoral authorities disclosed the limit for campaign costs for the general elections this year. For presidential hopefuls, the ceiling is to stand at $18.17 million for the first round, plus $9.09 million if a second round is held.

The cap on campaigning costs for federal deputies was set at $649 thousand. For state or district deputies, the maximum was fixed at $260 thousand. As for the campaigns of state governors and senators, the limit for spending changes according to the number of voters in each of Brazil’s 27 states.

São Paulo, the country’s biggest electoral college, has the highest ceiling for a gubernatorial candidate: $5.45 million in the first round, and an added $2.72 million in case there is a second round. Second comes Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, with $3.63 million and an extra $1.82 million if a second round is held.

In October, Brazilians will elect their new president, along with 27 governors, and federal, state, and district deputies. As for the Senate, each state is represented by three lawmakers. This year, two thirds of them will be renewed.