Brasilia: Brazilians began voting on Sunday in a closely watched presidential election dominated by incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his main challenger, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.Pre-election polls suggested both candidates had a chance of winning outright. If neither secures a majority of votes, a runoff election will be held on October 25.Nearly 159 million Brazilians are eligible to vote in Latin America's largest economy.Flávio Bolsonaro is an ally of US President Donald Trump and the son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who was defeated by Lula in the previous election four years ago.In addition to choosing the country's next president, voters are also electing 27 state governors, members of state legislatures, all 513 members of the lower house of Congress, and 54 of Brazil's 81 senators.The election is being closely watched as Brazil decides its political direction for the coming years in a contest between two candidates representing sharply contrasting political visions.
