Electronic ballot box Reproduction/TRE-RN Party conventions are open from this Monday (20), and four parties have already defined dates in Maranhão. Until August 5th, political parties and federations will be able to hold meetings to formalize candidacies and define coalitions for the 2026 elections. ?? Conventions mark the moment when parties formalize their candidates and alliances with other parties and federations. In these meetings, the parties choose candidates, decide on coalitions in majority elections and approve the minutes. They also define the numbers that will be used by candidates at the polls. ? Click here and subscribe to the g1 Maranhão channel on WhatsApp According to the rules of the Electoral Court, conventions can take place in person, virtually or hybridly. Check out the party schedule in Maranhão below: July 21st (Tuesday): Missão Party, linked to Movimento Brasil Livre (MBL), in a virtual meeting, which should confirm André Luís as a candidate for government July 25th (Saturday): Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), at 3pm, at Parque São João Paulo II, in the Bacanga neighborhood, in São Luís, to confirm Orleans Brandão as a candidate for government July 29th (Wednesday): Party Unified Socialist Workers' Party (PSTU), at 7pm, in the bank workers' union auditorium, in São Luís, to confirm Saulo Arcângeli as a candidate for government August 1st (Saturday): Workers' Party (PT), to confirm vice-governor Felipe Camarão as a candidate for government No date defined: Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL), which must confirm Enilton Rodrigues as a candidate for government and the Social Democratic Party (PSD), to confirm the former mayor of São Luís Eduardo Braide as a candidate for government After the conventions are held, the parties will be able to register their candidacies with the Electoral Court. The next stage will be the start of the electoral campaign and electoral propaganda, scheduled for August 16th. See the dates on the electoral calendar. This year, the parties need to define who will compete for the positions of: president; governor; senator (two seats up for grabs per state); federal deputy; state and district deputy (in the case of DF). Rules for conventions The Superior Electoral Court establishes some rules for the operation of conventions, such as: minutes: it is mandatory to draw up a document mentioning the names and intended positions of each of those chosen. The file must be sent to the Electoral Court by the day after the convention and published on the TSE website; attendance list: compiled with all convention participants. Just like the minutes, it must be published on the TSE's Candidacy Disclosure and Electoral Accountability page (DivulgaCandContas); legal regularity: on the day of the convention, the party must have a management body constituted and registered in its regional electoral court. Federations must have at least one political party that meets the requirement; public buildings: conventions can be held in public buildings free of charge, as long as the person responsible for the venue is notified at least one week in advance, and is responsible for any damages caused. Party convention period begins this Monday (20)