On Sunday, October 2, thousands of Brazilians converged on Valencia College West Campus, Buildings 8 and 9, to vote in the hotly contested election for their country’s next president.  The Brazilian Vice-Consulate of Orlando set up and organized the space and provided the election workers.  Valencia Security, Orlando Police, and Valencia Maintenance staff patrolled all areas from the parking lots, sidewalks, buildings, and lakeside spaces.  Security expressed that they were expecting between 10 -12,000 voters to turn out to make their choice between the conservative candidate Jair Bolsonaro and the left-leaning Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the front-runners, among others. 

Many enthused voters came dressed in the familiar green-and-yellow, all showing their national pride no matter what their political leaning. Brazilian media covered the event, interviewing citizens after they cast their votes.  

Not wanting to pass up a favorable opportunity to share our offerings with those who might need it, Valencia College Continuing Education team members staffed tables filled with brochures and flyers to provide information about our ESOL classes and Intensive English Program to voters who might need those services. 

Since no candidate received over 50% of the vote, a run-off is scheduled on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022.