Brazilian attorney Monica Rosenberg has filed a petition with the country’s Superior Electoral Court, signed by thousands of people, calling for voting hours to be extended until 8 p.m. local time on October 4.
This year’s election falls on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, meaning observant Jews will only be able to vote after the holiday ends.
The main problem is that polling stations nationwide are scheduled to close at 5 pm, while Simchat Torah ends at 6:40 pm According to the Brazilian Israelite Confederation (CONIB), about 120,000 Jews live in Brazil.
In a press statement, organizers stressed that the initiative is not seeking to postpone the election or change its official date.
Instead, the petition calls for polling stations located near Jewish communities to remain open until 8 pm, allowing observant Jews to vote immediately after the holiday.
The legal effort aims to prevent a situation in which citizens are forced to choose between their religious beliefs and civic duty, particularly in Brazil, where voting is mandatory.
The initiative has received strong backing from CONIB President Claudio Lottenberg, who said the fight for religious freedom and political participation is intertwined with combating antisemitism and strengthening democratic values.
The petition has also gained support from prominent media personality Silvia Abravanel, daughter of billionaire Silvio Santos, who shared the campaign with her millions of social media followers.