Brazilians including President Lula da Silva have cast their ballot in the country’s elections. Lula voted at his home town near Sao Paolo. He is the favourite to win the vote for president but opinion polls indicated he would not get enough of a majority to win outright. There will probably be a second round run-off in a month’s time.

Main challenger, Geraldo Alckmin, has benefited from revelations linking the Lula camp with corruption. The opposition claimed supporters of the president tried to buy information to mount a smear campaign against Alckmin, leader of the centrist Social Democracy Party.

The third placed candidate is Heloisa Helena, a former Lula supporter who was thrown out of his Workers’ Party after criticising its move to the centre.

More than 125 million people are taking part in the election and over 360,000 electronic voting terminals are in operation. People are also voting for deputies as well as regional governors and councillors.

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