Brazil’s polls were off during the first round. Now the right wants to criminalize them.

In the first round of Brazil’s closely watched elections this month, the polls significantly underestimated the support for President Jair Bolsonaro and other conservative candidates across the country. Many on the right were furious, criticizing the pollsters as out of touch with the Brazilian electorate.

Now, at the urging of Mr. Bolsonaro, some of Brazil’s leaders are trying to make it a crime to incorrectly forecast an election. Brazil’s House of Representatives has fast-tracked a bill that would criminalize publishing a poll that is later shown to fall outside its margin of error. The House, which is controlled by Mr. Bolsonaro’s allies, is expected to vote and pass the measure in the coming days. CONTINUED

André Spigariol & Jack Nicas, New York Times


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