Brazil has voted in a deeply polarised presidential election pitting Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva against Flávio Bolsonaro, son of the imprisoned former president, with democracy, crime, living costs and US influence all shaping the contest.

Polls have closed in Brazil’s presidential election, yet again pitting left-wing incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva against a right-wing candidate from the Bolsonaro family – Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. About 160 million registered voters were eligible to cast ballots in Sunday’s elections, which will elect legislators, governors and senators. Results are expected within a few hours of the polls closing due to Brazil’s electronic voting system.

If no presidential candidate wins more than 50 per cent of valid votes, the top two contenders will proceed to a run-off on 25 October.

Most opinion polls ahead of the vote showed a........

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