Voter Registration
Registration Deadline: Voter registration closes at 5pm 28 days prior to an election. Party Affiliation: New Mexico has a closed primary, so only those registered in a major political party may participate in the primary election.
Voter Registration Qualifications
Age: Must be 18 years or older at the time of the next election.
Citizenship: Must be a United States citizen
Residency: Must be a resident of New Mexico
Mental Competency: Must not be legally declared mentally incapacitated
Felony Convictions: You can register to vote once you have completed the court-ordered sentence of imprisonment, including any term of parole or probation for the conviction, or have had the conviction overturned on appeal.
ID Requirements for registration:
Online: You will need your social security number, your driver’s license number or state identification number, and your date of birth.
By mail: You must submit with the form a copy of a current and valid photo identification or if you do not have valid photo identification, you can submit a copy of one of the following:
-a current utility bill
-bank statement
-government check
-paycheck
-student identification card
-identification issued by an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo or
-other government document that shows your name and current address.
If you do not submit one of these forms of identification with your mailed-in, first time registration, then you would be required to present one of the forms of identification when voting in person or absentee.
Obtaining a Voter Registration Form
Online: New Mexico Online Voter Registration
In person: The New Mexico Certificate of Registration Form is available at
-the Office of the Secretary of State;
-Motor Vehicle Division offices
-libraries
-post office branches
-city and town halls
-other government buildings
-public assistance offices
By mail/ in writing: print out this voter registration form, fill it out and mail it to your local county clerk's office.
Verifying Your Voter Registration Status
Online: New Mexico voter registration verification
Phone: Contact County Clerk's Office
ABSENTEE BALLOT QUALIFICATIONS: No excuse is required to vote with an absentee ballot. Voters may cast an absentee ballot or vote in person in the county clerk's office during regular business hours starting 28 days prior to an election.
Obtaining an Absentee Ballot
Online: New Mexico absentee voter ballot
In person: You may apply for an absentee ballot at your county clerk's office
By mail: You may download the application or obtain a ballot from your county clerks
Under normal conditions: Applications must be received by the County Clerk no later than 5pm on the Friday before the election. The county clerk must either mail the ballot or notify you with the reason why the application was not accepted, within 24 hours of receipt of the application.
Military and overseas voting: If you reside outside of the U.S., you may vote in New Mexico if New Mexico was the last place you lived before moving outside the U.S. This is the case even if you moved away many years ago and no longer maintain a residence in New Mexico. If you never resided in New Mexico, however, you were born to parents whose last U.S. residence was New Mexico, you are eligible to register and vote here.
For more information on military and overseas voting, click here.
Submitting an Absentee Ballot
Location and time: All absentee ballots may be returned to the County Clerk's Office or any Election Day polling location no later than 7:00 PM on Election Day.
Early Voting
Information for early voting: Early voting locations open in each county beginning 17 days before the election and continue through 3 days before the election. Please check locations and hours of operation by visiting NMVote.org or by contacting your County Clerk’s Office.
VOTING ON ELECTION DAY:
In-person: Polling locations are open from 7am-7pm
Additional Information
Deciding how to vote: https://votesmart.org
Time off to vote: Employees whose work day begins within 2 hours of the polls opening and ends less than 3 hours before polls close are entitled to up to 2 paid hours leave to vote. The employer can set the time for leave to vote.
Polling Place: Polling locations map. If unavailable, contact your county clerk.
ID Requirements: A physical form of identification is only required for first-time New Mexico voters who registered by mail and did not include identification with their voter registration application form. Refer to the list above for acceptable identification. Otherwise, you will be asked to provide a verbal or written statement of identification including your name, year of birth, and registered address.
How to Vote: New Mexico Voter Bill of Rights
Problems with voting: To report complaints call 505-827-3621, complaint form
Call the Office of the Secretary of State at 1-800-477-3632
Verifying absentee ballot status: Contact your county clerk to verify your absentee ballot status. Or click here for access to the voter portal.
