Portuguese football club Benfica is enhancing its election logistics and aiming to surpass its recent world record for voter turnout as members prepare for the second round of a closely watched presidential ballot.
The club set a global record for participation in club elections on October 25, when more than 86,000 members cast their ballots in the first round.
Benfica now aims to mobilize its fanbase to reach 100,000 voters in the run-off election scheduled for Saturday. Former player Rui Costa, who secured 42.13% of the votes, faces challenger Noronha Lopes, who garnered 30.26%.
To facilitate the increased turnout and streamline the process, the club is implementing significant logistical improvements. These include adding 144 new voting points and enhancing procedures in 46 existing sections.
In Lisbon’s voting sections, the number of ballot counting tables will be doubled. This is expected to halve the time required for results tabulation.
José Pereira da Costa, president of the General Assembly Table, confirmed the aim to make voting swift and the scrutiny process efficient. “We have invited the candidacies to request four delegates to enter at 10 p.m. local time to participate in the scrutiny process, with the objective of making everything faster,” he told BTV.
Pereira da Costa also promised improved communication with members and a quicker announcement of results.
Only two minor changes to voting locations have been announced for the second round. In Amadora, members will now vote at Escola Básica Roque Gameiro, a primary school, and in Loures, at Escola Secundária Dr. António Carvalho Figueiredo, a secondary school.
The remaining 106 voting sections, spread across 105 cities, will operate as they did in the first round.