Voter Registration - ID Requirement - Early Voting - Absentee Voting - Provisional Voting - Sample Ballots - Primary System

State Contact Information
Bureau of Elections
New Mexico Secretary of State
325 Don Gaspar, Suite 300
Santa Fe, NM 87503

Phone: (505) 827-3600
Fax: (505) 827-8403
Email: Elections@state.nm.us
Website: http://www.sos.state.nm.us

Voter Registration
Obtaining a Voter Registration Application
Qualified persons may register to vote on two different forms: The New Mexico Certificate of Registration form or the National Voter Registration Form.

The New Mexico Certificate of Registration Form ("New Mexico Form") is available at any county clerk's office, the Office of the Secretary of State, or many state agencies that serve specific clients at those offices such as motor vehicle offices. The form must be promptly delivered to either the Secretary of State or the proper county clerk's office. The Secretary of State will send completed forms to the appropriate county clerk. Once the county clerk has accepted the form for filing, individuals or groups may make a public records request. However, certain information on the form is always privacy protected. Once the registration application has been submitted, the applicant should receive a voter registration card from the County Clerk within 15 days. This card will list the voter's polling place and districting information.

Online Registration: Not available

To locate your county clerk's office, please visit: http://www.sos.state.nm.us/Main/Elections/Clerks.html

Do I need to present identification when I register to vote?
Yes. Please see ID Requirement and Acceptable forms of identification below.

Close of registration: Voter registration is closed for 28 days before an election.


ID Requirement
Every registered voter is required to show identification at the polls on Election Day. Photo and non-photo ID accepted.

First Time Voters
First-time voters who register by mail on or after January 1, 2003 are required to provide ID verification with registration application or voters will be required to show identification at the polling place when they go to vote.


A) A physical form of identification, which may be:

1. an original or copy of a current and valid photo identification with or without an address, which address is not required to match the voter's certificate of registration or a voter identification card or;
2. an original or copy of a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, student identification card or other government document, including identification issued by an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo, that shows the name and address of the person, the address of which is not required to match the voter's certificate of registration;

Or

(B) a verbal or written statement by the voter of the voter's name, year of birth and unique identifier; provided, however, that the statement of the voter's name need not contain the voter's middle initial or suffix.

Early Voting in Person

• Voters may also vote early in-person, instead of voting by mail.
• Any registered voter can vote early in-person at their local county clerk's office beginning the 28th day before the election and vote on either a paper ballot or electronic voting machine
• Beginning on the third Saturday before an election, any registered voter may vote early in person, on an electronic voting machine or paper ballot at an alternate site established by the county clerk. Call your county clerk for a list of early voting locations.
• Alternate sites for early voting are open from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The sites are open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays and are closed on Sunday and Monday.
• Early voting ends at 6 p.m. the Saturday before the election.

Dates for Early Voting

Absentee Voting (Open)
Absentee voting/vote by mail is open to any registered voter who wishes to vote by absentee ballot without providing a reason or excuse as long as the voter is registered in the county in which he/she resides. Absentee Voting is done by mail and on a paper ballot.

Requesting an absentee ballot
A voter may request an absentee ballot from the New Mexico Absentee Ballot Application or the Federal Postcard ballot application for military and overseas voters. If a military or overseas voter submits the Federal Postcard registration form, it also acts as an absentee request form. Voters may also request absentee ballot applications from the office of their local County Clerk. Please contact your County Clerk for more information. Voting begins 28 days before an election, however you may apply for an absentee ballet at any time.

When to request an absentee ballot:
Voters in other elections may request an application for absentee ballot from their County Clerk and return it no later than the Friday before Election Day.

Deadline to vote by absentee ballot:
Completed absentee ballots must be returned to the county clerk or voter's precinct before 7:00 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. Contact information for County Clerk offices.


Provisional Voting (in-precinct)
A "provisional ballot" can be considered a temporary ballot. Federal law provides for voters whose eligibility is in question to cast a ballot. A provisional ballot is not counted until voter eligibility can be determined by Election officials. Provisional voting was established nationwide by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). This means that no person who says they are registered to vote may be denied their right to vote. Provisional ballots will be counted if cast in the correct county.

A voter has the right to vote a provisional ballot if one of the following situations applies to him/her:

• The voter's name is not on the official roster of voters and the election officer cannot verify the voter's voting eligibility on Election Day.
• The voter is a first- time Federal Election voter in the county and was unable to provide the required proof of identification.

Sample Ballots
Provision of sample ballots may vary by county. Please contact your local county clerk's office for more information about the distribution of sample ballots. However, sample ballots will be printed in local newspapers and will be posted at your polling place on Election Day.

Primary System (closed)
New Mexico's primary system is closed. In order to vote in a primary, voters must be registered in a political party.