Brazil’s presidential election will go to a second round between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. Brazilian news outlet UOL reported that the electoral authority confirmed the October 25 runoff following the October 4 vote.

Bolsonaro led Lula in the partial count, but neither reached the majority needed for an outright victory. The contest pits a president seeking a fourth, non-consecutive term against the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro leads the partial count

With more than 90% of ballots counted, Bolsonaro had 48.03% of valid votes and Lula had 43.99%, UOL reported. Brazil requires a presidential candidate to win more than half of valid votes to avoid a runoff.

Reported shares varied across counting snapshots: Bolsonaro stood at roughly 49%–50% in earlier figures, while Lula had about 42%. Counting was still under way, and the final first-round totals were not yet available.

The polling institute Datafolha projected a second round between the two candidates. UOL said Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court, known by its Portuguese initials TSE, confirmed that projection.

Lula seeks a fourth term

Lula, 80, is running for the Workers’ Party, or PT. Bolsonaro, 45, represents the Liberal Party, or PL, and is making his first bid for the presidency.

The partial result put Bolsonaro ahead despite Lula’s numerical lead in a pre-election Datafolha poll. That survey placed Lula at 45% of valid first-round votes and Bolsonaro at 42%, with the difference described as within the margin of error.

The same poll suggested a close contest if the election reached a second round. It put Lula at 47% and Bolsonaro at 46%, also within the margin of error.

A nationwide vote beyond the presidency

The TSE made 158.7 million voters eligible for the first round, according to reported electoral authority figures. The October 4 election also covered state governments and seats in the national and state legislatures.

Voters elected governors in 27 states, all 513 federal deputies and two-thirds of the Senate. They also chose representatives for state legislative assemblies.

The presidential contest now moves to a vote between the two leading candidates. The runoff is scheduled for October 25.