A Quaest poll released on Sunday (6) shows that Brazilian voters choose a presidential candidate first of all by his record. For 31% of respondents, the most important trait is not being involved in corruption. For 28%, it is a commitment to democracy. The survey was commissioned by the newspaper O Globo and broadcaster Globo, and the figures were reported by G1, the group's news portal.

Being tough on violence and crime comes next, at 15%. Political experience adds 9%, and being religious, 4%. Positions on Brazil's institutions barely register: being critical of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) was named by 2% of respondents, and being critical of Congress, by 1%. Being an ally of the STF scored 0%.

What rules a candidate out

The order repeats when the poll asks what would make a voter rule out a candidate entirely. Involvement in corruption is a dealbreaker for 40%. Lacking a commitment to democracy turns away 21%, and being weak on crime, 13%. No other item exceeds 5%.

Priorities shift with political allegiance. Among voters of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the most cited trait is commitment to democracy, at 29%. Among supporters of Flávio Bolsonaro, a senator and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, 41% put having no ties to corruption first. Among self-declared independents, a clean record on corruption leads with 33%, followed by defending democracy, at 26%.

The race itself

The same Quaest round carries the first-round voting intentions reported by G1: Lula, who is running for reelection, has 37%; Flávio Bolsonaro, 29%; and the writer Augusto Cury, 10%. Renan Santos has 3%, and Ronaldo Caiado and Romeu Zema, 1% each.

Quaest interviewed 2,004 people aged 16 and over across the country between August 30 and September 1. The margin of error is two percentage points, and the confidence level is 95%. The poll is registered with the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) under number BR-07065/2026. Brazil votes in the first round of the presidential election in early October, one month away.