Rio Grande do Sul elections see high abstention and polling changes

The 2026 first-round elections in Rio Grande do Sul have seen significant variations in voter turnout and polling logistics. In the coastal region, voter abstention rates reached high levels, with Cidreira recording the highest rate in the state at 31.71%. Balneário Pinhal followed with an abstention rate of 30.27%. Several other coastal municipalities, including Tramandaí, Palmares do Sul, and Imbé, also appeared among the state's top 20 highest abstention rates.

In Canoas and Nova Santa Rita, voters face changes to polling locations. Some shifts are due to ongoing school renovations, while others result from damage caused by the 2024 floods. For example, in Canoas, several sections from the 134th Electoral Zone and the 66th Electoral Zone have been transferred to different municipal schools. Some locations are also returning to their original addresses following repairs from previous environmental disasters.