Lula maintained a 14-point lead over the far-right president with the stated support of 50% of poll respondents who said they intended to cast a valid ballot and not a blank or spoiled one.

To win in the first round, a candidate must garner 50% of valid votes, plus one.

Bolsonaro’s stated support remained in a distant second place with 36%, according to the poll data released just hours before the two men face off for their final campaign debate.

Another poll published Monday, by Ipec, had Lula leading with 52% of valid votes to 34% for Bolsonaro.

The far-right incumbent has repeatedly rejected the validity of polling data, insisting he is the leading candidate and implying he would not accept an electoral defeat.

If no candidate amasses 50% of Sunday’s vote, a second round will be held on Oct 30.

Datafolha will publish a final poll on the eve of Sunday’s first round, which will indicate whether yesterday’s debate managed to sway voter intention.