Rio Grande do Sul launches 2026 Consulta Popular budget vote
The state of Rio Grande do Sul began the 2026 Consulta Popular on Monday, July 20, with voting running until July 26. Citizens can cast their votes entirely online through the gov.br portal or via WhatsApp by sending “Quero votar na Consulta Popular’’ to the virtual assistant GurIA (51 3210‑3939). Participation requires a gov.br account at bronze, silver or gold level, and users must verify their credentials before voting.
The consultation allows the population to select one of five projects from a ballot covering themes such as agriculture, tourism, justice, environment, culture, rural development, transport, sports, economic development, innovation, science, technology, labor, social development, housing and urban planning. The 2026‑2027 edition earmarks R$ 60 million of the state budget for the chosen projects, to be distributed among the 28 Regional Development Councils (Coredes) according to technical criteria.
In the Vale do Rio Pardo region, the vote will allocate R$ 2 228 571.43, with two‑thirds (R$ 1 485 714,00) directed to municipalities in the Baixo Vale and one‑third (R$ 742 857,00) to those in the Centro‑Serra. Regional council president Heitor Álvaro Petry urged maximum voter mobilisation through online channels and local institutions.