Last updated on December 17, 2013

After Minister Carlos Velloso took over as President of the TSE at the end of 1994, he created a feasibility committee composed mostly of notable judges, lawyers and other jurists to investigate the feasibility of transitioning to electronic voting, as well as to determine the basic parameters of any new system. The committee was charged with planning a system with the following characteristics:

• Computers used for both voting and counting
• Could be used across a representative sample of municipalities throughout Brazil in the 1996 municipal elections
• Performed automatic and rapid tabulation of the votes
• Significantly reduced or eliminated fraud 
• Implemented with the approval of citizens, political parties and candidates

While a judge formally led the committee, the real leader was Dr. Paulo César Bhering Camarão, a friend of Minister Velloso with expertise on the technical aspects of electronic voting. On technical aspects, the committee consulted with the military, government ministries and experts in universities. To study the legal feasibility of the new system, the committee also consulted the Bar Association (OAB), public prosecutor’s office and other lawyers. Simultaneous to the formation of the feasibility committee, Minister Velloso worked to convince judges and technical staff within the TSE to accept the transition to electronic voting. In an interview, Minister Velloso indicated he had the support of President Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Minister of Planning and Budget José Serra. In the initial stages of planning, Congress and political parties had very little role, although they were kept informed. There was not much outreach to the media in the decision making stage, as Minister Velloso only held a press conference to inform the media about the TSE’s efforts. There was also little civil society engagement in the decision making stage. 

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