1853 Riograndense legislative election (RRG)

The 1853 Riograndense legislative election was held on September 4, 1853, to elect all members of the Chamber of Deputies and one-third of the Senate. This was the first midterm election in the country's history as it was held in the middle of Antônio de Sousa Netto's first term. The elections resulted in another victory for the Radical Party despite a reduction in its share of the popular vote. Conservatives, which had boycotted elections since the establishment of the Second Republic, were divided between the Party of Order, which had accepted the 1851 Constitution, and the reactionary Conservative Party that called for a return to the First Republic.

Background
The two years since the foundation of the Second Republic proved to be eventful as the new administration of President Netto found itself in he middle of the Platine War, an international conflict between Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Despite officially remaining neutral, Netto would support the Brazilian war effort in order to destabilize the beef jerky exports of Argentina and Uruguay, as well as for the benefit of signing a trade agreement with Brazil that would open its markets to Riograndense jerky exports. This alliance with Brazil would mark the definitive normalization of diplomatic relations.

The conflict between its neighbors did not prevent Netto's administration from enacting significant progressive reforms. In 1852, the government created a system of free schools that would be open to all Riograndense boys between the ages of six and twelve, with the program later expanded to girls in 1853. At the same time, the government began preparations for a landmark land redistribution effort that would benefit the middle class and eliminate the latifundia. This land reform had three major benefits as it promoted immigration (and thus the exploitation of more land), satisfied the Radicals' middle-class electoral and sapped power away from the landowners who had been the largest support of conservative parties.

Electoral system
The election to the Chamber of Deputies remained the same as its members were chosen via firs-past-the-post from single-member constituencies. The 5 seats of in the Senate that were up to re-election were chosen via single non-transferable voting from a nationwide electoral list.

Each senator and member of the Chamber was elected on a joint ticket with a substitute, allowing for party leaders who were candidates for both houses to choose their eventual seat.