Voting in New Mexico

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Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its voting policies.

The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in New Mexico:

Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

For information on elections happening this year, click here.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

Voter registration

Eligibility and registration details

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in New Mexico, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of New Mexico, and at least 18 years old by the time of the next election. People convicted of a felony are eligible to vote after their prison time is completed, even if they are still on probation, parole, or another form of supervised release. Individuals who have been declared mentally incapacitated may not register to vote.[1]

Potential New Mexico voters who were not registered automatically may use the New Mexico voter registration form or national voter registration form to register. Completed registration materials may be mailed or delivered by hand to election officials. First-time applicants by mail must attach a valid form of identification to their registration materials. Registration can also be completed online.[1]

In-person voting

Poll times

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In New Mexico, all polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mountain Time on Election Day. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[2]

Voter identification

See also: Voter identification laws by state

New Mexico does not require voters to present identification while voting, in most cases. However, if an individual registered to vote for the first time by mail and did not provide verification of his or her identity then, the voter will have to show identification.[3]

Those voters can present the following forms of identification:

  • Current and valid photo identification
  • Current 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 voter’s name and current address

Some municipalities require identification when voting in local elections. Click here for more information.

Early voting

See also: Early voting

New Mexico permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.


Absentee/mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee in New Mexico. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[4]

The county clerk must receive the absentee ballot application no later than 5 p.m. on Friday before the election. Completed ballots must be returned to the county clerk or voter's precinct before 7 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.[4]



Local election officials

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.

Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

People convicted of a felony are eligible to vote after their prison time is completed, even if they are still on probation, parole, or another form of supervised release.[5]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[6]


Election administration agencies

Election agencies

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See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in New Mexico can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

New Mexico County Clerks

Click here for a list

New Mexico Secretary of State: Elections Division

325 Don Gaspar, Suite 300
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501-4401
Phone: 505-827-3600
Email: elections@sos.nm.gov
Website: https://www.sos.nm.gov

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov


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State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

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Ballotpedia publishes regular analysis of election administration legislation, including three full reports per year, providing ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting election policy in each state. These reports deliver insights into partisan priorities, dive deep into notable trends, and highlight activity in key states.

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See also

Elections in New Mexico


External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 New Mexico Secretary of State, “Voter Registration Information,” accessed August 22, 2024
  2. ↑ New Mexico Compilation Commission, "New Mexico Statutes - Chapter 1, Article 12.1", accessed August 22, 2024
  3. ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Voting," accessed August 22, 2024
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 New Mexico Secretary of State, "Absentee and Early Voting," accessed August 22, 2024
  5. ↑ Democracy Docket, "The New Mexico Voting Rights Act Unpacked," March 22, 2023
  6. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," August 22, 2024
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