Young Brazilians performing mandatory military service are prohibited from voting for the duration of their service, even though other members of the armed forces and police retain normal voting rights. The restriction is written directly into Brazil’s 1988 Constitution and is one of only two explicit constitutional prohibitions on voter registration, the other applying to foreigners.

The rule dates to Brazil’s transition back to democracy following the military dictatorship that began in 1964. Constitutional-law professor Gabrielle Santana Garcia told UOL that it reflected fears that rank-and-file troops could be politically mobilized.

Read the full article at UOL “Militar pode votar?”