Public political ads begin on radio and television today

Brazil has midterm elections this year when over 5,500 municipalities will elect mayors, vice mayors and city councilmen. It also has public political advertising (“propaganda eleitoral gratuita”) and it begins today on radio and television. The ads are mandatory and will run until October 4 (the first round of elections are on October 7). Candidates are allowed to run ads in newspapers and on the internet until October 5, and use sound cars until October 6 (this is advertising they pay for out of pocket).

Runoff elections will take place, where necessary, in cities with populations of over 200,000, on October 28. There will be another period of public political ads (October 13 to 25) before they take place.

This public political advertising on radio and television is free for political parties but the Brazilian government pays broadcasters for the time (they get a tax break worth an estimated R$600 million).