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New Mexico

Upcoming Election Dates & Registration Deadlines

Some elections in this list are local and do not apply for all New Mexico voters. Please click the “View all” button below to view all election dates in your state.

Next Election: Primary
Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Presidential Primary & State Primary

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Registration Deadlines

Tuesday, May 7, 2024
By Mail
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
In Person
Tuesday, June 4, 2024

05

Nov
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
General

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New Mexico Voting Information

Absentee Ballot Process

Absentee voting is available and no excuse is required. The last day to request an absentee ballot is 14 days before the election. You can return your absentee ballot request form through mail, in person at your local elections office, or online. Voted ballots must be received by Election Day in order to be counted. You can sign up to track your absentee ballot on your Secretary of State website. Absentee ballots begin being counted on Election Day.  

Those who requested an absentee ballot but end up voting in person: Do not mail a ballot and vote in person. For specifics, you can find your local county clerk contact info here.

You can request an absentee ballot through your county clerk, by mail, by phone, or online.

Be sure to return your absentee ballot to the county clerk's office or to a polling location on or before Election Day. Absentee ballots must be delivered by 7pm on Election Day to be counted.

Permanent Mail Voting List (Effective Jan. 1, 2024)

To join the permanent mail voting list, you can complete a paper or online application and submit it to your county clerk. At least 49 days before each statewide election, the county clerk will notify voters on the list, reminding them that they will receive a ballot by mail. The notice will also include information on removing themselves from the list if they choose to do so.

A voter would be removed from the permanent mail voting list if:

  • They fail to return the mail ballot in two consecutive elections, including at least one general election.
  • A mailed ballot or other election mail sent to the voter's mailing address was returned undeliverable.
  • Their registration is canceled.
  • They update their registration to an address outside the county.
  • They request to leave the list.

For other questions, check the Secretary of State Website.

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Campaign Finance Information

For information on federal campaign contributions, please visit Open Secrets.

 

Candidate and Ballot Measure Information

Information on local, state and federal candidates and ballot measures is available here.

 

Drop Boxes

There are multiple ways for voters to return their absentee ballot. You can drop off your ballot at your county clerk’s office, a secured mail ballot drop box, or at any polling location in your county during Early Voting or on Election Day. 

Note: a new law requires each county to have at least two mail ballot drop boxes, otherwise known as  “monitored secure containers.” Indigenous nations, tribes, and pueblos may make written requests for voting locations and monitored secured containers (ballot drop boxes) from county clerks.

Please contact your county clerk's office for information on the nearest drop box.

Early Voting

You may vote early at your County Clerks office, beginning 28 days before an election. Early voting at alternate sites begins on the third Saturday before the election in many counties. Early voting information may be found on this state website.

Indigenous nations, tribes, and pueblos may make written requests for early voting locations from county clerks.

Election Dates

The next election date can be found here https://www.vote411.org/new-mexico.

Contact your local Board of Elections for information about local elections.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to vote, you must be:

  • A resident of New Mexico
  • A citizen of the United States
  • At least 18 years old. 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the General Election may participate in the primary election. Voters must be at least 18 years old to participate in all other elections.

Incarcerated Voters & Returning Citizens: 

In New Mexico, you only lose your right to vote if you are currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. If you lost your voting rights because of a conviction, you could register to vote immediately after release. Your voting rights are not restricted by pretrial detention, misdemeanors, probation, or parole. 

Voters without traditional residence: 

In New Mexico, it is not mandatory for citizens to possess a "permanent home" for voter registration. A citizen can provide an alternative description of their residence, even if they are experiencing homelessness, as long as it enables the authorities to identify and assign a voting precinct to them. This precinct assignment ensures that the voter receives the appropriate ballot. The mailing address on their registration form can be a PO box, local shelter, advocacy organization, outreach center, or the home of someone who will accept mail for them. 

ID Needed for Voter Registration

If the voter registration application is submitted by mail and it is the first time you have registered in your county or in the state, you must submit a copy of an acceptable form of ID.

Acceptable forms of ID are:

  • a current valid photo ID
  • a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck
  • a student ID card
  • an ID issued by an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo that shows your name and current address
  • or other government document that shows your name and address.

Submitting this identification information will allow you to avoid showing personal identification at your polling place on Election Day.

If you wish to register to vote online you will need a current or expired New Mexico State ID or driver's license.

ID Needed for Voting

No ID is needed for voting UNLESS you registered to vote for the first time by mail and did not provide a copy of a current and valid photo ID along with a current utility bill or bank statement, you will need to show some form of ID at the polls.

Acceptable forms of ID are:

  • An original or copy of a current  and valid photo ID with or without an address (the address doesn't need to match the address on your registration)
  • Original or copy of a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, student ID card or other government document, including ID issued by an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo that shows your name and address (the address doesn't need to match the address on your registration)
  • Verbal or written statement by you (the voter) with your name, year of birth and registered address

If you cannot provide any of the above forms of ID you may vote a provisional ballot.

NOTE: Some municipal jurisdictions do have voter ID rules in place that require ID to be provided in order to vote in city elections. This includes the city of Albuquerque and the city of Rio Rancho. Please contact your county clerk for more information.

Voters can call or text 844-338-8743 at any time to reach VoteRiders Voter ID Helpline

Official Results

Official results are never available on Election Day. Election officials are working around the clock to count an unprecedented number of ballots, and it’s essential that they take the time to make sure every vote is counted. 

Absentee ballots begin being counted on Election Day.

Official election results will be uploaded on New Mexico’s Secretary of State website as they become available.   

Official Results
Overseas and Military Voters

You are a Military or Overseas voter if you are in uniformed services, living overseas OR a spouse or dependent of a uniformed services voter. To get registered and vote, you can utilize Overseas Vote Foundation.

If you have additional questions about elections and voting overseas you can use our state specific elections official directory or contact the Overseas Vote Foundation.

Poll Worker Information

You can make sure we have safe, fair, and efficient elections for all. Become a poll worker today!

In order to be a poll worker in New Mexico you must:

  • Be registered to vote in New Mexico
  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be a resident of the precinct
  • Complete required training
  • Messengers and translators may also be appointed

You will be entitled to compensation and political affiliation may be considered.

To sign up, contact your local board of elections.

Polling Place Hours

Polls will be open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Polling Place Locator

You can find your polling place by utilizing your state resource. If you have any questions, please contact your county clerk.

Primary Election Process

New Mexico is a “closed primary” state. In order to vote in the primary election, voters must be registered with a political party. Unaffiliated or independent voters are not able to participate in the primary.

If you have any questions about your state’s primary election, please contact your local election officials.

 

Provisional Voting

You will be issued a provisional ballot if your name does not appear on the roster or you do not provide the required identification.

You can check the status of your provisional ballot here.

You have until 5pm two days after the Election to provide proper identification for their provisional ballot to be counted.

Provisions for Voters with Disabilities

You may request assistance in voting at the polls if you are blind, physically disabled, unable to read or write or a member of a language minority. Any person of your choice may assist you, except your employer, an agent of the employer, an officer or agent of your union, or a candidate whose name is on the ballot.

If you are blind or visually impaired you may request an absentee ballot be sent electronically so you may use your own non-visual or low vision technology to mark your ballot. Fill out an absentee ballot application and be sure to provide your email address for delivery of the electronic ballot.

For more information, you can utilize the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) resource. Or, you can contact your Bureau of Elections at sos.elections@state.nm.us.

Ranked Choice Voting

Ranked choice voting may be available in your area, contact your local elections officials for more information. Voters in Santa Fe and Las Cruces began using Ranked Choice Voting in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to rank candidates in their order of preference. Voters do not need to rank candidates if they do not want to and may vote for just one candidate. For more information on how Ranked Choice Voting works in your area, please contact your local elections officials.

Registration Deadline

You may register to vote online! You will need your social security number and driver's license or state ID number to complete the form.

Mailed and online registration closes 28 days before an election.

Same-Day Voter Registration

SDR is available at your County Clerk’s office or at any polling location in your county on Election Day. Additional Early Voting locations may also provide SDR – it’s best to check with your local county clerk

You’ll need to bring the following: 

1. An ID issued by the federal government, a state government, a federally recognized Indigenous nation, tribe, or pueblo, or an educational institution containing your name and photo, AND includes your registration address.

OR

2. An acceptable ID with your name and photo paired with another document showing your name and registration address, such as a utility bill.

Automatic Voter Registration (Effective July 1, 2025)

If you provide a document proving your US citizenship during a DMV transaction, the DMV will check the voter registration database to see if you are registered. If not, you will be registered, offered an opportunity to affiliate with a political party, and told that the county clerk will mail you information about declining registration.

Time Off To Vote

Employers must grant employees up to two hours paid leave to vote, unless polls are open two hours before or three hours after regular working shift. The employer may designate the hours to be taken, but it may not include lunch or rest hours.

Verify Voter Registration

To verify your voter registration status

click here!
Voting Machines

The voting machine systems used in New Mexico are optical scan.

Optical Scan: With this system, you will receive a card or sheet of paper, which you take over to a private table or booth. The card has the names of the candidates and ballot measures printed on it. With a pen or pencil you fill in a little box or circle or the space between two arrows. When you are finished filling out all the cards, you bring the cards over to a ballot box, where poll workers will show you how to put the cards in the box. Or in some places, you may feed the completed cards or papers into a computer device that checks your card or paper right there at the polling place to make sure you have voted the way you want to and counts the votes.

 

Personalized voting information

  • See What's On Your Ballot
  • Check Your Voter Registration
  • Find Your Polling Place
  • Discover Upcoming Debates and Forum in Your Area

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New Mexico Department of State

Secretary of State

State Capital North Annex

Suite 300

Santa Fe 87501


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LWV of New Mexico

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