The Porto Alegre Municipal Social Assistance Council (CMAS) is accepting civil society candidacies until September 22, 2026 for the 2027-2028 term. The process is divided into three segments and provides six seats for each one, for a total of 18 seats in this selection. Registration is in person, on business days, at CMAS headquarters.
Who can compete for the civil society seats
According to the official notice from the Porto Alegre city government, candidacies may participate if they fit one of the three segments below.
| Segment | Seats | Who fits |
|---|---|---|
| Organizations that organize and/or represent users | 6 | Representatives of organizations that organize or represent users of social assistance policy. |
| Organizations registered with CMAS | 6 | Organizations that are already registered with the Porto Alegre Municipal Social Assistance Council. |
| Organizations or representations of SUAS workers | 6 | Organizations or forms of representation of workers linked to Brazil's Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS). |
Before filing, it is important to confirm which segment the candidacy belongs to. The municipal notice summarizes the eligible groups, but the page does not reproduce the full list of documents required for the electoral process.
How to register by September 22
- Identify the candidacy segment. The application must fit one of the three groups in the process.
- Consult the electoral rules. Resolution No. 150, dated August 24, 2026, establishes the rules for the civil society election to the CMAS for the 2027-2028 term. The rule can be located in Porto Alegre's Municipal Legislation System.
- Check the documents before going. Because the public news item does not list the documentation checklist, use the regulation as the reference and, if necessary, confirm details with CMAS at +55 (51) 3289-4830.
- File the application in person. Candidacies must be delivered at CMAS headquarters, Rua Baronesa do Gravataí, 700, 4th floor, Praia de Belas.
- Follow the election-specific service window. Applications are received on business days from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., through September 22.
Place, hours and contact for candidacies
| Deadline | Through September 22, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Election registration hours | 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., on business days |
| Place | CMAS, Rua Baronesa do Gravataí, 700, 4th floor, Praia de Belas, Porto Alegre |
| Phone listed in the notice | +55 (51) 3289-4830 |
The CMAS institutional page lists broader general service hours and additional contact channels. For filing an electoral candidacy, however, the schedule specifically announced for this process should be followed: 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Confirmed schedule through election day
| Date | Confirmed stage |
|---|---|
| 09/22/2026 | Deadline for civil society candidacy registrations. |
| 11/16/2026 | Election scheduled in the regions that make up the Regional Social Assistance Commissions (Coras). |
The public notice consulted does not show, on the page itself, the intermediate dates for review, approval of candidacies, appeals or campaigning. To avoid relying on an incomplete or outdated timeline, those stages should be checked directly in the electoral regulation and in any later CMAS publications.
What to check before filing
- whether the candidacy is in the correct segment;
- whether the organization is actually registered with CMAS, when applying through the registered organizations segment;
- which forms, statements and documents the regulation requires for the chosen segment;
- who is authorized to represent the organization or worker/user representation when filing;
- whether any amendment or new notice was published after the source consulted.
Because the deadline is close, the safest approach is to arrive with the documentation checked against the regulation and enough time to correct any pending issue before the September 22 deadline.
Why this election matters
CMAS is a social oversight body for municipal social assistance policy, with participation from both government and civil society. Its functions include discussing and deliberating on policy, establishing rules and overseeing the delivery of social assistance services. The 2026 election selects civil society representatives who will take part in this body during the 2027-2028 term.
