New Mexico Election Guide

Election 2024 Information for Santa Fe 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 2024 Ballot Measures

New Mexico Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption Amendment

An amendment Article 8, Section 15 of the Constitution of New Mexico to extend a property tax exemption, currently only allowed for one hundred percent disabled veterans and their widowers, to veterans with less than one hundred percent disability and their widows and widowers and basing the amount of the exemption on a veteran's federal disability rating.

More Information: Click Here

New Mexico Increase Veteran Property Tax Exemption Amendment

An amendment to Article 8, Section 5 of the Constitution of New Mexico to increase a property tax exemption for honorably discharged members of the armed forces and their widows and widowers.

More Information: Click Here

New Mexico Judicial Nominating Commission Amendment

Amends Article 6, Section 35 of the Constitution of New Mexico by allowing the Dean of the University of New Mexico School of Law to appoint a designee to the judicial nominating commission.

More Information: Click Here

New Mexico County Officer Salaries Amendment

Amends the state constitution to authorize the board of county commissioners to set salaries for county officers and clarify that fees collected by the county are to be deposited into the county treasury.

More Information: Click Here

New Mexico Senior Citizens Facilities Bond Issue

Authorizes the state to issue $30,758,100 in bonds to fund senior citizens' facilities.

More Information: Click Here

New Mexico Public Libraries Bond Issue

Authorizes the state to issue $19,305,000 in bonds to fund public libraries.

More Information: Click Here

New Mexico Public Education Bond Issue

Authorizes the state to issue $230,258,400 in bonds to fund public higher education institutions, special public schools, and tribal schools.

More Information: Click Here

New Mexico Public Safety Radio Communications Systems Bond Issue

Authorizes the state to issue $10,297,100 in bonds to modernize public safety radio communications systems.

More Information: Click Here