CACs and the election: firearm transport banned October 24 to 26 for the runoff

Anyone registered as a CAC (collector, sport shooter or hunter, "colecionador, atirador desportivo ou caçador") in Brazil cannot transport firearms or ammunition from October 24 to 26, 2026, anywhere in the country. The rule applies to the runoff election (2º turno) on October 25, 2026, and anyone who breaks it can be arrested in the act. Shooting clubs are also closed on those three days.

Warning: the transit permit (guia de tráfego) does not authorize transport during this period. This text is for information only and does not replace legal advice or guidance from the Federal Police (Polícia Federal, PF) or the Electoral Courts.

What does the rule say for CACs during the election?

The legal basis is article 79-A of Decree 11.615/2023 (Decreto 11.615/2023), added by Decree 12.345/2024: "The transport of firearms and ammunition in the national territory by collectors, sport shooters or hunters is prohibited on election day, in the twenty-four hours before it and in the twenty-four hours after it." The rule bans transport, not keeping the firearm at the registered collection address.

The Superior Electoral Court (Tribunal Superior Eleitoral, TSE) has the same rule in article 154-A of Resolution 23.669/2021. Resolution 23.759/2026, which gathers the voter rules for this year, repeats the ban in article 106, "even if registered as a collector, sport shooter or hunter".

What are the dates for the runoff?

On October 4, 2026, the first round sent the races for President and for several state governments to a runoff on October 25, 2026, according to the TSE news release on the presidential runoff and Agência Brasil's report on the runoff date. With the 24 hours before and after rule, the calendar is:

Table as of October 19, 2026, based on Decree 11.615 and TSE Resolution 23.669/2021.

Does it apply to people living in a city with no runoff?

Yes. Paragraph 2 of article 79-A says the ban "applies to all municipalities, even if no first or second round election is held in their territory". Since there is a presidential runoff, the rule covers the whole country.

Why do shooting clubs close?

Paragraph 1 of article 79-A prohibits "the operation of sport shooting entities" during the same period, from October 24 to 26, 2026.

What is the 100 meter rule?

It is a separate rule that applies to any armed civilian. Article 154 of TSE Resolution 23.669/2021 prohibits firearms within 100 m of a polling station in the 48 hours before voting and in the 24 hours after. That is why it starts earlier, on October 23, 2026.

Paragraph 2 of the same article extends the ban "to civilians who carry firearms, even if they hold a state carry permit or license". The exceptions are security forces on duty for the Electoral Courts and police officers patrolling on the day, who may vote while armed.

What is the risk of breaking the rule?

TSE Resolution 23.669/2021 says that a violation leads to arrest in the act for illegal firearm carry, "without prejudice to the corresponding electoral crime". This applies to transport by CACs (article 154-A) and to the 100 m rule (article 154, paragraph 6).

Read also: how to issue and use the transit permit in Sinarm CAC.

What to do now

Schedule training and trips for before October 24 or after October 26, 2026, and check the conditions of your transit permit. If your Firearm Registration Certificate (CRAF) is an old one, also see the CAC CRAF renewal deadlines.