New Mexico

Land Acknowledgement

New Mexico is the home of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, Navajo Nation, Ohkay Owingeh, Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of Cochiti, Pueblo of Jemez, Pueblo of Isleta, Pueblo of Laguna, Pueblo of Nambe, Pueblo of Picuris, Pueblo of Pojoaque, Pueblo of San Felipe, Pueblo of San Ildefonso, Pueblo of Sandia, Pueblo of Santa Ana, Pueblo of Santa Clara, Kewa Pueblo, Pueblo of Taos, Pueblo of Tesuque, Pueblo of Zia, Ute Mountain Tribe, the Zuni Tribe. It is also the traditional homeland of many tribes.

Overview

In New Mexico, you can register to vote in person, online, or by mail. The deadline to register to vote is October 11 online or by mail. New Mexico has limited same day voter registration. When voting in person, you do not have to bring an ID with you unless you are a first-time voter who registered by mail and did not submit a copy of your ID. To vote by mail, you must submit an absentee voter application.


Key Dates

October 11 - Voter registration by mail/online deadline

October 11 - Early voting begins

November 3 - Deadline to request a mail-in/absentee ballot

November 5 - Early voting ends

November 8 - Election Day!

New Mexico Voting Guide

Note: The information below is not legal advice on how to vote. Because voting information is changing rapidly during this election, make sure you check the links provided and check with your state about deadlines and voting specifics.

Registering to Vote

  • The voter registration deadline is October 11 by mail or online. Same day voter registration is allowed if you have a New Mexico driver's license or State ID card, or any document that contains an address in the county in which you wish to vote, with a photo ID card.

  • Voter Registration materials are available in English, Spanish, Navajo, Apache, Ute, and Pueblo. American Indian language assistance may only be available in some counties. Check with your County Clerk.

    Find your County Clerk contact information

  • To register to vote, you need an ID and a residential address or description of where you live plus a mailing address. Valid IDs include: a New Mexico driver's license, State ID card, Social Security Number, or any document that contains an address in the county with a photo ID card (including a Tribal ID - identification from an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo that shows your name and current address) or a current valid student photo ID card from a post-secondary institution in New Mexico with a current student fee statement that contains the student's address in the county.

    A driver's license or state ID card is required to register online, but alternate forms of ID can be used to register by mail or in person. If it is your first time registering to vote and you register by mail, you will need to submit a copy of a photo ID or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address in the county in which you are registering.

  • You must provide your residential address. Your residential address must be a street address, not a P.O. Box. If you receive mail at a location different than where you live, you must provide that mailing address. If you do not have a traditional address, you can provide a description of where you reside.

    Voter registration applications contain a box to draw a map of where you reside as well. If you are describing your address, you must also provide a mailing address, which may be a P.O. Box.

  • This information is not currently available. We will keep monitoring this issue and update as soon as we can.

  • You can obtain a New Mexico ID from the Motor Vehicles Department.

  • Yes. If you have a current or expired New Mexico driver's license or state ID, you can register or update your registration online.

  • No.

  • Yes. Visit your County Clerk office to register in person.

    Find your County Clerk office

  • Yes. Fill out and sign a voter registration application form and mail it to your County Clerk. You can also request a copy of the paper application to be mailed to you by contacting your County Clerk.

    For first time voters registering by mail: If you are registering for the first time in New Mexico, and you submit the registration form by mail, then you must submit with the form a copy of (1) a current and valid photo identification; or (2) a 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 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.

  • Yes. Voting rights are restored after a felony conviction after you have completed your imprisonment and any parole or probation sentence for the conviction. You may be asked to provide a certification or affidavit of completion from probation and parole or the court system in order for the County Clerk to determine that all sentencing requirements have been satisfied prior to processing your voter registration.

  • You can contact your County Clerk for specific questions for registering to vote or contact the Secretary of State at (800) 477-3632.

  • The voter registration deadline is October 11. Same day in person voter registration is also allowed.

  • Yes, under federal law you can assist someone in registering to vote if they do not speak English well, if they have trouble reading or writing, or if they have a disability.

Checking & Updating Voter Registration

  • You can check your voter registration using this website.

  • You can call your County Clerk to check your voter registration.

    Find your County Clerk

  • You can update your voter registration online or by printing, filling out, and mailing a new voter registration form to your County Clerk's office.

    Mail your voter registration update in by October 11.

  • Maybe. If your voting status is inactive, you should be able to vote like usual and your status will return to active. However, use this website to check to see that you have not been removed from a voter roll.

Voting by Mail/Absentee/Ballot Drop-Off

  • Anyone can request to vote by mail, no reason required. Absentee voting begins October 11 and ballots must be received at the County Clerk's Office or any Election Day polling location no later than 7PM on November 8.

  • Yes. Please check that you have filled out all required fields and signed your ballot. USPS recommends you mail in your ballot a week before the deadline to ensure your ballot is received on time. However, please factor in your personal experience with mail delivery times to and from your place of residence or where you drop off your ballot.

  • You can get a mail-in ballot by filling out an application online or by contacting your County Clerk's Office in person, by phone, mail, or email, or by downloading this form and mailing it or hand delivering it to your County Clerk's Office.

    Find your County Clerk

  • No.

  • Yes.

  • Ballot requests will be accepted through the online portal until 5PM on November 3. Ballots can be requested through your County Clerk through November 3.

  • New Mexico will begin sending out ballots on October 11. If you do not receive your absentee ballot within a reasonable time after submitting your application, please contact your County Clerk no later than Friday November 4.

  • Ballots will be sent to your residence address or your mailing address, as indicated on your absentee ballot application. This can be a different address from your residence address as listed on your voter registration.

  • No. Your ballot includes a postage pre-paid official return envelope addressed to the County Clerk's office.

  • New Mexico recommends mailing your ballot on or before November 2 to ensure it arrives by the deadline. USPS generally recommends a week to ensure delivery. Please use your personal experience with mailing times where you live to ensure enough time for your ballot to be received at your County Clerk's office by 7PM on Election Day, November 8.

  • Yes, you may hand deliver your ballot to the office of the County Clerk or any early or Election Day voting location in your county by 7PM on November 8.

    Find a voting location near you

  • Yes. A caregiver or member of your "immediate family" defined as a spouse, child, parent, or sibling can deliver your ballot to the County Clerk in person or by mail. The authorized person who returns your ballot must sign the official return envelope.

  • No. Ballots must be sent through USPS or dropped off at specified locations.

    Find where to drop off your ballot

  • No.

  • Yes, if your ballot is missing your signature on the envelope, voter identification is missing (only where required), or the envelope is open when received, it may be rejected.

  • Yes. You can track your ballot online.

  • Contact your County Clerk, or your Secretary of State at (800) 477-3632.

Voting In-Person

  • Find your polling place on this website.

  • Yes, language assistance is available in 10 counties.

    Navajo language assistance is available in Bernalillo, Cibola, McKinley, Rio Arriba, San Juan, Sandoval, and Socorro Counties.

    Apache language assistance is available in Lincoln and Otero Counties.

    Pueblo language assistance is available in Sandoval and Santa Fe Counties.

    Ute language assistance is also available in San Juan County.

    Spanish language assistance is available in an additional 12 counties.

    Call your County Clerk for visit this website more information.

  • Yes. Early voting begins October 11 and ends November 5.

  • No. You do not need to present ID to vote unless you are a first-time New Mexico voter who registered by mail and did not include identification with their voter registration application form. Unless that applies, you will only be asked to provide a verbal or written statement of identification including your name, year of birth, and registered address.

  • You can obtain a New Mexico ID from the Motor Vehicles Department.

  • Yes. Upon voting you have the right to ask for and receive instructions on how to cast a provisional ballot if your name is not on the list of eligible voters OR you are required to provide identification and did not bring it to the polls.

    You also have the right to vote a provisional ballot if you registered by mail for the first time in this county and did not provide identification when you registered, AND you do not have identification with you the day you vote. Your provisional ballot will be counted once you confirm your identity.

  • Yes. Under federal law (Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act), you are entitled to bring anyone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or neighbor, to the polling place AND into the polling booth to assist with voting. However, that person may not be your employer, running in the election, or a representative of your labor union. The person giving assistance also may not tell the voter how to vote.

  • Contact your County Clerk, or your Secretary of State at (800) 477-3632