Upcoming Elections
2010 Primary Election: 06/1/10
2010 General Election: 11/2/10
Polling Place Hours: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Click here to download a New Mexico Frequently Asked Questions document created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
Voter Registration Information
Click here for a New Mexico Voter Registration Guide created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
Registration Deadlines
The voter must register no later than 28 days before the election.
Deadline for 2010 Primary Election: May 4, 2010
Deadline for 2010 General Election: October 5, 2010
Identification Required for Registration
Identification is required to register to vote in New Mexico if an applicant is registering for the first time in the state and if the registration form is submitted by mail.
The applicant must submit with the form a copy of:
- A current and valid photo identification or
- 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 the name and current address of the applicant.
- If the applicant does not submit the required identification when registering, the applicant will be required to do so when voting in person or absentee.
How to Check Registration
Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE
Check the New Mexico Secretary of State's VoterView website
Voting Information
Identification Required to Vote
New Mexico voters must provide identification at the polling place in order to vote. Acceptable forms of physical identification include the following:
- an original or copy of a current and valid photo identification with or without an address, the address of which is not required to match the voter's certificate of registration or a voter identification card; or
- 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.
Acceptable forms of verbal identification include:
- a verbal or written statement by the voter of the voter's name, year of birth, and registered address; provided, however, that the statement of the voter's name need not contain the voter's middle initial or suffix.
If a voter fails to provide the required voter identification, the voter shall be allowed to vote on a provisional ballot. A first time registrant who submits the registration by mail must provide physical identification.
How to Find Your Polling Place
Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE
Check the New Mexico Secretary of State's VoterView website
Absentee Voting
Click here to visit GoVoteAbsentee.org, a resource for absentee voters.
Any voter may vote by absentee ballot for all candidates and on all questions appearing on the ballot just as if s/he were able to cast his/her ballot at his/her regular polling place on Election Day.
The county clerk must receive the absentee ballot application no later than Friday, October 29, 2010 for the general election.
The county clerk must either mail the ballot or notify the voter why the application was not accepted within 24 hours of receipt of the application.
If a voter applies for an absentee ballot and receives it, they must vote that ballot. The voter will not be issued another ballot if the original ballot is destroyed, discarded or delivered to the polls un-voted.
If a voter applies for, but does not receive the absentee ballot, the voter may go to the county clerk's office until Monday, November 1, 2010, for the general election, and apply for a replacement ballot. The voter may also go to their polling place and vote on a in lieu absentee ballot on Election Day. The voter will be required to sign a sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, that the voter did not receive their ballot.
Absentee voting for 2010 General Election begins on Tuesday, October 5. Absentee ballots must be returned to the county clerk or voter's precinct before 7:00 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Early Voting
- Individuals may vote early in-person.
- Voters may go to their County Clerk's office beginning the 28th day before the election and vote on either a paper ballot or electronic voting machine.
- Early voting in 2010 General Election begins on October 16th at locations other than the County Clerk's office. Call the County Clerk for locations.
- Alternative early voting sites shall open no earlier than 7:00 a.m. and shall close no later than 9:00 p.m., and be open each day of early voting for at least eight consecutive hours.
- Alternate voting locations may be closed Sundays and Mondays during the early voting period.
- Early voting in 2010 General Election ends on October 30th.
Information For People who have Moved or Changed Addresses
Moving Within the Same County
- A voter who has changed residence within the same county shall complete a certificate of registration to change his/her address. However, a voter will be permitted to vote by provisional ballot even if s/he is not at the polling place in his/her precinct of residence. The County Canvassing Board will count the vote but will ensure that only those votes for the positions or measures for which the voter was eligible to vote are counted
Moving Between Counties
- A voter who has changed residence to a different county within the state shall complete a certificate of registration and file it with the appropriate County Clerk. A voter must cancel his/her registration in his/her previous county of residence before registering in his/her new county.
- A person shall be permitted to vote on a provisional paper ballot even though his/her original certificate of registration cannot be found in the county register or even if his/her name does not appear on the signature roster, provided:
- his/her residence is within the boundaries of the county in which s/he offers to vote;
- his/her name is not on the list of persons submitting absentee ballots; and
- s/he executes a statement swearing or affirming to the best of his/her knowledge that s/he is a qualified elector, is currently registered and eligible to vote in that county and has not cast a ballot or voted in that election.
Moving Between States
- Voters who have moved from New Mexico to another state within 30 days of Election Day or to New Mexico from another state more than 30 days prior to Election Day, and who otherwise possess the substantive qualifications to vote in New Mexico except for the requirement of residence, may vote for presidential officers in a presidential election, but for no other officers or upon any questions or in any other election.
Information for People with Felony Convictions
Voting rights restored upon completion of sentence, including prison, parole and probation
For more information, go to the New Mexico Secretary of State's website, or click here to download a New Mexico a Election Protection Manual created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
