New Mexico Election Guide

Election 2022 Information for Lea County, NM

Voter Registration

Registration Deadline: Online registration deadline: Tuesday, October 8, 2024. Register by mail deadline: Must be postmarked by Tuesday, October 8, 2024. In person registration deadline: Tuesday, November 5, 2024

 

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

   - county clerk's office

   -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. 

 

 

Election 2022 Ballot Measures

Bond Question 1 - New Mexico Senior Citizens Facilities Bond Issue

RELATING TO GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS; AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF CAPITAL PROJECTS GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO MAKE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES FOR SENIOR CITIZEN FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, CONSTRUCTION AND ACQUISITIONS, FOR
LIBRARY ACQUISITIONS AND FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND ACQUISITIONS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, STATE SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND TRIBAL SCHOOLS; PROVIDING FOR A PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL OF, INTEREST ON AND CERTAIN COSTS RELATED TO THE BONDS; REQUIRING APPROVAL OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS AT THE 2022 GENERAL ELECTION OF THE STATE; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

More Information: Click Here

Bond Question 2 - New Mexico Public Libraries Bond Issue

The bond measure would issue no more than $19,266,000 in general obligation bonds for library improvements at public libraries, public school libraries, academic libraries and tribal libraries statewide. A general obligation bond is public debt and is paid for through state funds, specifically funds from a statewide property tax in New Mexico.

More Information: Click Here

Bond Question 3 - New Mexico Public Education Bond Issue

The bond measure would issue no more than $215,986,000 in general obligation bonds to make capital improvements for higher education, special schools, and tribal schools. A general obligation bond is public debt and is paid for through state funds, specifically funds from a statewide property tax in New Mexico.

More Information: Click Here

Amendment 1 - New Mexico Land Grant Permanent Fund Distribution for Early Childhood Education Amendment

The measure would allocate 1.25% of the five-year average of year-end market values of the money in the Land Grant Permanent Fund to early childhood education (60% of the allocation) and public education (40% of the allocation). As of 2020, the New Mexico Constitution provided that the annual distribution from the fund was 5% to 21 designated fund beneficiaries. This amendment would increase the total annual distribution to 6.25%. The amendment also provided that if the average year-end market value for the preceding five years of the LGPF dropped to $17 billion allocations would be halted until the fund amount increased.

More Information: Click Here

Amendment 2 - New Mexico Authorizing Funds for Residential Services Infrastructure Amendment

PROPOSING TO AMEND ARTICLE 9, SECTION 14 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO ALLOW PUBLIC INVESTMENT TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL HOUSEHOLD SERVICES, INCLUDING INTERNET, ENERGY, WATER, WASTEWATER AND OTHER SIMILAR SERVICES AS PROVIDED BY LAW, UPON THE ENACTMENT OF GENERAL IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE MEMBERS ELECTED TO EACH HOUSE OF THE LEGISLATURE.

More Information: Click Here

Amendment 3 - Appointed Appellate Judge Requirements

PROPOSING TO AMEND ARTICLE 6, SECTION 35 OF THE CONSTITUTION
OF NEW MEXICO TO PROVIDE THAT AN APPOINTED JUDGE SERVE AT
LEAST ONE YEAR BEFORE A GENERAL ELECTION IS HELD FOR THE
OFFICE TO WHICH THE JUDGE WAS APPOINTED.

More Information: Click Here