Brazilian Voters Abstain Due to Loneliness and Exhaustion

A recent survey conducted by Plataforma Avaaz with pollster Datafolha found that Brazilian voters are staying away from the polls due to feelings of loneliness and exhaustion. The study linked the lack of community ties and contact with nature to disinterest in politics, with nearly one in three voters not participating in the last elections. The survey identified an 'epidemic' of loneliness, mental exhaustion, and a dependence on technology as driving factors behind voter abstention. Young people, in particular, are affected, with 44% of the disengaged group falling within the 18-34 age range. The director of Avaaz's Desapocalíptica Project, Nana Queiroz, recommends developing 'good living' policies that promote contact with nature, access to culture, and leisure. These initiatives aim to rebuild community connections and reduce digital addiction. According to Queiroz, policies that change people's real lives are necessary to win them back and increase voter participation. The survey used a foreign methodology that examines quality-of-life indicators, such as happiness and mental health, to better understand the drivers of voter abstention.