Brazilian states tighten election rules as Rio Grande do Sul curtails online publicity and Rio de Janeiro summons feder​

The government of Rio Grande do Sul and the municipality of Porto Alegre have begun applying Brazil's electoral‑law restrictions to their official websites and social‑media accounts. All institutional content is being frozen or moved to temporary profiles, with central information now posted on the state portal (estado.rs.gov.br). Accounts such as “governo_rs” on Instagram and “GovernoDoRS” on Facebook have been deactivated, and alternative profiles created to share only essential public‑service information during the campaign period that runs from early July until the second round of voting.

In a separate development, the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Couto, reversed an earlier position and formally requested federal troops to assist with election security. After a meeting with the Regional Electoral Court, the state argued that federal support would help protect voters, polling stations, the transport and storage of electronic ballots, and maintain public order in critical areas. The request follows previous use of federal forces in Brazil's 2022 general election and 2024 municipal elections.

Both measures are part of preparations for the 2026 national elections, which will determine the president, governors, senators and other officials.