Election policy in New Mexico
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| Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its election administration. |
Election administration encompasses a state's voting policies, procedures, and enforcement. These include voter identification requirements, early and absentee/mail-in voting provisions, voter list maintenance methods, and more. Each state's voting policies dictate who can vote and under what conditions.
Below, you will find details on the following election administration topics in New Mexico:
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.[2] Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.[3]
Voter registration
- 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, at least 18 years old by the time of the next election, and not denied the right to vote due to a finding of mental incapacity. 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.[4]
Potential New Mexico voters who were not registered automatically may use the New Mexico voter registration form, the national voter registration form, or the state's online voter registration portal to register. The registration deadline is 28 days before an election, though same-day voter registration is available.[5]
Completed registration materials may be mailed or delivered by hand to election officials. To register online, an applicant must have a state-issued ID. First-time applicants registering by mail must attach a valid form of identification to their registration materials. Acceptable forms of identification include a current and valid photo identification or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, student identification card, or other government document, including tribal IDs, that show the voter's name and current address.[4]
Automatic registration
- See also: Automatic voter registration
New Mexico has automatic voter registration. Eligible voters are automatically registered to vote when they apply for or renew a driver's license, or apply for an ID card, unless they opt out.[6]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
New Mexico has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
- See also: Same-day voter registration
New Mexico allows same-day voter registration.[7]
Residency requirements
In New Mexico, individuals can register to vote as soon as they become residents of the state.[4]
Verification of citizenship
New Mexico does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must swear or affirm that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote.[8]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[9] Six states — Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring individuals provide proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. Two states, Georgia and Mississippi, require a person provide proof of citizenship if their citizenship status cannot be verified by other means. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.
Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy
Early voting
- See also: Early voting
New Mexico permits early voting. Early voting begins 28 days before the election and ends on the Saturday before the election, and is held during the regular hours and days of business at the county clerk's office, plus the Saturday before the election. Additional times and weekend dates can be added at the discretion of county clerks. Early voting must take place at the clerk's office and, if the county has more than 10,000 voters, between one and 15 alternate locations, depending on the size of the county.[10]
For more information, visit this website.
Early voting allows citizens to cast their ballots in person at a polling place before 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.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting. Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire do not offer no-excuse early voting.
Absentee/mail-in voting
- See also: Absentee voting
All voters are eligible to vote absentee in New Mexico. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[11]
The county clerk must receive the absentee ballot application no later than the 14th day before the election.[12] A voter may request an absentee ballot by filling out and returning an application form, or by completing an online application. 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.[11]
All states allow for some form of absentee/mail-in voting. Seven states and the District of Columbia had automatic mail-in ballot systems that mandate that all eligible voters receive an absentee/mail ballot by default. An eighth state, Vermont, had such a system for general elections only.
Twenty-eight states allow any eligible voter to cast an absentee/mail-in ballot. The remaining 14 states required voters to provide an excuse to receive and cast an absentee/mail ballot. Acceptable excuses vary by state.
Returning absentee ballots
In New Mexico, a voter, a voter’s caregiver, or a member of the voter’s immediate family may return an absentee ballot to the county clerk by mail or in person.[13] New Mexico law states:
| “ | Completed official mailing envelopes that are received at the county clerk's office or a polling place or that are retrieved from the post office or a monitored secured container shall be accepted until 7:00 p.m. on election day. A completed official mailing envelope received after that time shall not be qualified or opened but shall be preserved by the county clerk for the applicable retention period provided in Section 1-12-69 NMSA 1978.[14][15] | ” |
And,
| “ |
A. A voter, caregiver to that voter or member of that voter's immediate family or household may deliver that voter's absentee ballot to the county clerk in person or by mail; provided that the voter has subscribed the official mailing envelope of the absentee ballot. B. As used in this section, "immediate family" means the spouse, children, parents, domestic partner, grandchildren, grandparents or siblings of a voter or a person with whom the voter has a continuing personal relationship. [13][15] |
” |
Eighteen states allow anyone chosen by the voter to return a ballot on the voter's behalf, with certain exceptions, while 16 states allow anyone with certain relationships to the voter to return the voter's ballot. Four states allow only the voter to return the voter's ballot, with certain exceptions, and two states required voters to return their ballots by mail. Ten states and D.C. do not specify who may return ballots.
Drop box availability
- See also: Ballot drop box laws by state
State law permits but does not require the establishment of drop boxes for the purposes of returning absentee ballots. State law refers to drop boxes as "secured containers" and requires county clerks to publicly post the location and hours of drop boxes at least 42 days before an election, to provide for video surveillance of each container, and to collect ballots from each container no less than every three days and on Election Day.[16]
Signature requirements and cure provisions
Absentee ballot envelopes are printed with a form that the voter must execute. If the form lacks a signature or does not include the last four digits of the voter's social security number, the ballot is rejected. A voter may contest a challenge to his or her ballot, or appeal a rejected ballot.[17]
New Mexico law includes a cure provision, which is a law allowing a voter to correct an issue with the signature on his or her ballot. New Mexico administrative code says, "The county clerk shall immediately attempt to contact a voter whose ballot qualification was rejected to provide notice to the voter of the rejection, opportunity to satisfy the reason for the rejection, and the process for curing reason for the rejection." The provision goes on to say "Voters may cure a rejected ballot in-person at the county clerk's office of the county where the ballot was issued or by electronic means or by regular mail."[18]
Thirty-three states have laws that include cure provisions, while 16 states do not. One state, Pennsylvania, allows counties to establish a cure process. Twenty-four states explicitly allow voters to cure their ballots after Election Day, six states require that curing take place on or before Election Day, and three states do not stipulate ballot curing timelines in statute.
Was your absentee ballot counted?
Use the Ballot Tracking System tool provided by the New Mexico Secretary of State to check the status of your absentee ballot.
Voter identification requirements
- See also: Voter ID in New Mexico
- See also: Voter identification laws by state
New Mexico does not require voters to present identification while voting, in most cases.
The federal Help America Vote Act requires that individuals in all 50 states who register to vote by mail and who have not voted previously in a federal election in their state must provide either their driver's license or a paycheck, bank statement, current utility bill, or government document showing their name and address. Individuals voting by mail must include a copy of one of those documents with their absentee/mail-in ballot.[19]
These requirements do not apply if an individual submitted a copy of their identification, their driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering to vote. Voters in New Mexico can present the following forms of identification:[20]
- 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.
Thirty-six states require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 24 require voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 12 accept other forms of identification. The remaining 14 states do not require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day.
Valid forms of identification differ by state. In certain states that require voters to provide identification, there may be exceptions that allow some voters to cast a ballot without providing an ID. To see more about these exceptions, see details by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, passports, and military identification cards.
Provisional ballot rules
Voters in New Mexico are given provisional ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, under the following circumstances.[21][22]
(1) If the voter’s name does not appear in the poll book, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
(2) If the voter is voting for the first time and is unable to provide identification, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
If a voter casts their ballot in the wrong precinct, state statute says "only those votes for the positions or measures for which the voter was eligible to vote are counted."[22]
A provisional ballot is rejected if the voter did not sign the ballot or the signature roster or has already cast an absentee ballot.[22] If a person is not registered to vote in the county, they will be offered the opportunity to register; the provisional ballot is not counted, and the voter registration certificate is processed after the election.[22]
Was your provisional ballot counted?
Visit the office of the secretary of state’s Provisional Ballot Search tool to check the status of your provisional ballot.
Primary election type
- See also: Primary elections in New Mexico
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. New Mexico utilizes a semi-closed primary process; participation in each party's primary is limited to registered party members and unaffiliated voters.[23][24]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Time off work for voting
In New Mexico, employers must grant two hours of paid time off for employees to vote unless employees begin their workdays two hours after polling has begun or end their workdays more than three hours prior to the close of polls. This provision applies to Indian nations, tribes, and pueblos. Violation of this provision incurs a fine from $50 to $100:
| “ | A. On election day a voter may absent himself from employment in which he is engaged for two hours for the purpose of voting between the time of opening and the time of closing the polls. The voter shall not be liable to any penalty for such absence; however, the employer may specify the hours during this period in which the voter may be absent. B. The provisions of Subsection A of this section do not apply to an employee whose work day begins more than two hours subsequent to the time of opening the polls, or ends more than three hours prior to the time of closing the polls. |
” |
Twenty-eight states require employers to grant employees time off to vote. Within these 28 states, policies vary as to whether that time off must be paid and how much notice must be given.
Electioneering
New Mexico state law prohibits electioneering, which is defined as the "display or distribution of signs or campaign literature, campaign buttons, t-shirts, hats, pins or other such items and includes the verbal or electronic solicitation of votes for a candidate or question." Electioneering is prohibited within:[26]
| “ |
|
” |
Electioneering too close to the polling place is a petty misdemeanor under state law.[26]
Voting rules 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.[27]
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.[28]
Voter list maintenance
All states have rules under which they maintain voter rolls, or check and remove certain names from their lists of registered voters. Most states are subject to the parameters set by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).[29] The NVRA requires states to make efforts to remove deceased individuals and individuals who have become ineligible due to a change of address. It prohibits removing registrants from voter lists within 90 days of a federal election due to a change of address unless a registrant has requested to be removed, or from removing people from voter lists solely because they have not voted. The NVRA says that states may remove names from their registration lists under certain other circumstances and that their methods for removing names must be uniform and nondiscriminatory.[30]
When names can be removed from the voter list
New Mexico law authorizes election officials to remove the names of voters from the registered voting list if an individual:
- dies[31][32]
- is convicted of a felony[33]
- is found unqualified to vote by a court[34]
- is determined to have moved out of the state[35]
- requests in writing to be removed[31][35]
- fails to respond to confirmation of address notices and does not vote in two consecutive general elections.[36]
Inactive voter list rules
New Mexico law requires the Secretary of State’s office to identify voters who have had mail returned as undeliverable to county clerks or election officials or appear to have relocated outside of the state, using National Change of Address data and other address verification resources. Between 90 and 120 days before the next general election, election officials are to send a forwardable notice to these identified voters. If the voter does not respond, update their registration status, or vote for two consecutive general elections after the notice has been sent, their registration is canceled.[36]
Citizenship checks and voter list maintenance
New Mexico statute does not specifically require election officials to incorporate state, local, or federal data on citizenship into the voter list maintenance process.
The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)
According to its website, ERIC is a nonprofit corporation that is governed by a board of member states. These member states submit voter registration and motor vehicle registration information to ERIC. ERIC uses this information, as well as Social Security death records and other sources, to provide member states with reports showing voters who have moved within their state, moved out of their state, died, have duplicate registrations in their state, or are potentially eligible to vote but are not yet registered. ERIC's website describes its funding as follows: "Members fund ERIC. New members pay a one-time membership fee of $25,000, which is reserved for technology upgrades and other unanticipated expenses. Members also pay annual dues. Annual dues cover operating costs and are based, in part, on the citizen voting age population in each state."[37]
Twenty-five states are participating members in the ERIC program. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia have joined and participated in ERIC at some point.[38]
As of March 2026, New Mexico was participating in the ERIC program.[39]
Post-election auditing
New Mexico state law requires post-election audits. County clerks randomly select precincts to audit electronic voting machines under the supervision of an independent auditor. This is done for all federal offices, governor, local offices, and the statewide elective office that the winning candidate won by the smallest percentage margin. The number of precincts audited depends on the margin of victory for each office. The county clerks must report their results to the auditor within 14 days of being notified, unless there is a recount in that county.[40]
A second random sample is audited if there is a large discrepancy between the hand-counted ballots and the vote totals reported by the voting machines. If the error rate for the second sample in a race is more than 90 percent, a full hand recount is required.[41]
Post-election audits check that election results tallied by a state's voting system match results from paper records, such as paper ballots filled out by voters or the paper records produced by electronic voting machines. Post-election audits are classified into two categories: audits of election results—which include traditional post-election audits as well as risk-limiting audits—and procedural audits.[42][43]
Typically, traditional post-election audits are done by recounting a portion of ballots, either electronically or by hand, and comparing the results to those produced by the state's voting system. In contrast, risk-limiting audits use statistical methods to compare a random sample of votes cast to election results instead of reviewing every ballot. The scope of procedural audits varies by state, but they typically include a systematic review of voting equipment, performance of the voting system, vote totals, duties of election officials and workers, ballot chain of custody, and more.
Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia require some form of post-election audit by law. Of these, 35 states and the District of Columbia require traditional post-election audits, while seven states require risk-limiting post-election audits, and seven states require some other form of post-election audit, including procedural post-election audits.[44][42]
Ballot access
See statutes: Article 8 of the New Mexico Code
A candidate in New Mexico may run with an officially recognized political party, as an independent or as a write-in.
For major party candidates
A major party candidate files for office by submitting a declaration of candidacy and nominating petition to the proper filing official. A candidate must file the nominating petition and declaration of candidacy at the same time. This paperwork must be filed in person by the candidate between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the designated day for filing. The candidate must be affiliated with the political party with which he or she is running. Affiliation with that political party must be made before the date of the secretary of state's proclamation for the primary election.[45][46]
A candidate may seek a "pre-primary convention designation" before the primary election. A pre-primary convention designation guarantees a candidate a place on the primary election ballot. Every candidate receiving at least 20 percent of the vote at the party convention will be certified to the New Mexico Secretary of State as a convention-designated nominee for that office by the political party.[47][48]
According to the New Mexico Statutes, the nominating petition for a pre-primary convention designation candidate must be signed "by a number of voters equal to at least 2 percent of the total vote of the candidate's party in the state or congressional district, or the following number of voters, whichever is greater: for statewide offices, 230 voters; and for congressional candidates, 77 voters."[49]
A candidate who seeks but fails to receive a pre-primary convention designation may collect additional signatures totaling at least "4 percent of the total vote of the candidate's party in the state or congressional district, whichever applies to the office the candidate seeks." The candidate is required to file a new declaration of candidacy and the additional nominating petition for the office for which the candidate failed to receive a pre-primary designation. The post-convention declaration of candidacy and nominating petition must be filed with the New Mexico Secretary of State either 10 days following the date of the pre-primary convention at which the candidate failed to receive the designation, or on the date all declarations of candidacy and additional nominating petitions are due, whichever is later.[50]
For minor party candidates
The selection method for minor party candidates varies according to the rules of the specific party. Broadly speaking, the following requirements apply:[51]
- The chair and secretary of the state political convention must certify to the New Mexico Secretary of State the names of their party's nominees for federal, statewide, and state legislative offices.[52]
- The names certified to the New Mexico Secretary of State must be filed on the 21st day following the primary election and must be accompanied by a petition containing the signatures of at least 1 percent of the total number of the votes cast at the last preceding general election for the office of governor.[53]
- The petition must contain a statement affirming that the voters signing the petition are residents of New Mexico and the district, county, or area to be represented by the office being sought.[54]
For independent candidates
An independent candidate files for office by submitting a declaration of candidacy and nominating petition to the proper filing official. Candidates must file nominating petitions at the time of filing their declarations of candidacy.[55]
The petition for an independent candidate for the United States Senate or any other statewide office must be signed by at least 2 percent of the total number of votes cast for governor in the previous general election. The petition for an independent candidate for the United States House of Representatives must be signed by at least 2 percent of the total number of votes cast for governor in the previous general election in that particular congressional district. The petition for an independent candidate for the state legislature must be signed by at least 2 percent of the total number of votes cast for governor in the respective legislative district.[56]Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive titleCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive title
All requisite paperwork must be filed with the proper filing official before 5:00 p.m. on the 23rd day following the primary election.[57]
For write-in candidates in the primary election
A write-in candidate may only seek the nomination of the party with which he or she is affiliated. The candidate must qualify to be a candidate for the political party whose nomination he or she seeks.[58]
The candidate must file with the proper filing official a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate. The declaration must be filed before 5:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday in March in the year of the election.[59]
For write-in candidates in the general election
A write-in candidate in a general election must file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate with the proper filing official no later than the 21st day after the primary election.[60]
No person can run as a write-in candidate in the general election if he or she was a candidate in the primary election immediately preceding the general election.[61]
No unopposed write-in candidate can have an election certified unless the candidate receives votes equal to at least 1 percent of the total number of votes cast in the electoral district for governor in the last preceding general election in which a governor was elected.[62]
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in New Mexico
Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of New Mexico's three United States Representatives and 112 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[63][64][65][66]
New Mexico was apportioned 3 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in New Mexico after the 2020 census.
State process
- See also: State-by-state redistricting procedures
In New Mexico, congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[67]
State statutes require that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact. Redistricting guidelines adopted in 2011 suggest that congressional and state legislative districts meet the following criteria:[67]
- All districts should be "reasonably compact."
- Districts should "not split voting precincts."
- Districts should "attempt to preserve communities of interest and take into consideration political and geographic boundaries."
These guidelines are nonbinding and may be altered by the legislature at its discretion.[67]
On April 6, 2021, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed SB304 into law, forming a seven-member advisory redistricting commission. The legislation bars public officials, candidates, political party officeholders, federal legislative or state employees, and the relatives of federal or state officeholders from serving on the commission. The commission's proposals do not bind the state legislature, which retains the authority to adopt, amend, or discard the proposals as it sees fit.[68]
Election administration authorities
State election officials
In New Mexico, the secretary of state is the chief election official.[69] There is no state board of elections or equivalent authority. The secretary of state is elected by popular vote every four years and is term-limited to two consecutive four-year terms.
Click here to access the secretary of state's elections page.
Local election officials
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. |
Contact information
Election agencies
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in New Mexico can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
New Mexico County Clerks
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
Noteworthy events
New law allows unaffiliated voters to participate in primaries (2025)
On April 7, 2025, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed SB 16 into law, creating semi-closed primaries in the state.[70] The law allows unaffiliated voters to participate in the major party primary of their choice without changing their status as an unaffiliated or minor party affiliated voter. Previously, voters could affiliate on the day of the primary, but were required to register with the party of the primary ballot they selected. The law says:[70]
| “ | A voter who has declined to designate on the voter's certificate of registration a party affiliation, or who designated affiliation with a party other than a major political party on the voter's certificate of registration, but who chooses to affiliate with a major political party that is participating in a primary election may do so by requesting the ballot of one of the parties participating in that primary election. The voter's certificate of registration shall not be changed to reflect a new or different party affiliation unless the voter so requests...[15] | ” |
The Democratic-sponsored legislation bill received some bipartisan support in the New Mexico Legislature. It passed the New Mexico Senate 27-11 on Feb. 19. Four Republicans joined 23 Democrats to vote for the bill, while one Democrat voted against it. In the New Mexico House of Representatives, the bill passed 36-33 on March 21, when two Republicans voted for the bill and nine Republicans voted against it.[70]
Sen. Crystal Brantley (R), one of the Republicans to vote for the bill, said, "To my colleagues on the right and the state party who seems to be adamantly opposed to this, I would respectfully say, ‘What the hell do we have to lose?' ... I mean, in case anyone hasn’t noticed, we are far outnumbered as Republicans in New Mexico, and we need to welcome other voters to vote with us."[71]
Senate Minority Leader Bill Sharer (R), who voted against the bill, said, "The concern really is, does this help one side or the other, and if you just look at the sponsors, well, looks like it helps one side over the other."[71]
HB 4 Voting Right Act (2023)
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed House Bill 4 into law on March 30, 2023. Proponents of the law referred to it as the New Mexico Voting Rights Act. HB4 made several changes to the state's election rules:
- It established automatic voter registration. Voters are now automatically registered to vote when they interact with a department of motor vehicles unless they opt out.
- It automatically restored the right to vote for individuals convicted of a felony immediately after their prison time is completed. Previously, New Mexico restored voting rights to individuals convicted of a felony after completion of their entire sentence, including prison, probation, and parole.
- It allowed the state to offer more drop boxes.
- It allowed the state to create a permanent absentee voter list where voters can opt in to automatically receive mail-in ballots before every statewide election.
- It enacted a Native American Voting Rights Act that permitted the use of governmental and official buildings as mailing addresses for voter registration purposes, ensured that pre-existing political lines are respected when adjusting precinct boundaries, and allowed Indian nations or tribes to request additional early voting locations, polling places, and drop boxes.
- It designated Election Day as a school holiday. [72][73]
The table below lists bills related to election administration that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in New Mexico. The following information is included for each bill:
- State
- Bill number
- Official bill name or caption
- Most recent action date
- Legislative status
- Sponsor party
- Topics dealt with by the bill
Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.
Election policy ballot measures
Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in New Mexico.
- New Mexico Amendment 4 (1996)
- New Mexico Amendment 3 (1996)
- New Mexico Amendment 2 (1996)
- New Mexico Rules for County Officials in their Second Terms, Amendment 3 (1998)
- New Mexico Modern Election Language Amendment, Amendment 3 (2010)
- New Mexico Runoff Elections, Measure 3 (2004)
- New Mexico School Board, Amendment 1 (2008)
- New Mexico Amendment 1, Allow School Elections to Be Held with Other Nonpartisan Elections Measure (2014)
- New Mexico Candidacy Declarations in Judicial Retention Elections, Amendment 3 (2014)
- New Mexico Proposed Amendment 11, Voter Qualification (1994)
- New Mexico Proposed Amendment 1, Absentee Voting (1940)
- New Mexico Proposed Amendment, Absentee Voting (1958)
- New Mexico Proposed Amendment, Joint Election of Governor and Lieutenant Governor (1962)
- New Mexico Proposed Amendment, Absentee Voting, Removal of Voting Restrictions for Women and Indians (1964)
- New Mexico Proposed Amendment, Municipal Bonds, Special Elections, Nonresident Voting (1964)
- New Mexico Nominating Conventions for Candidates Referendum (1950)
- New Mexico Nominating Conventions for Candidates Referendum (1964)
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Ballotpedia's election coverage
- United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2026
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
- State legislative Democratic primaries, 2026
- United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2026
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2026
- Republican Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
- Republican Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
- Republican Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
- State legislative Republican primaries, 2026
See also
- Election laws and legislation in New Mexico
- State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
- Factors affecting the speed of ballot counting and delivery of unofficial election results
- Voting in New Mexico
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in New Mexico
- Redistricting in New Mexico
Elections in New Mexico
External links
- New Mexico Secretary of State - Voter Information Portal
- New Mexico Secretary of State - Voting and Elections
Footnotes
- ↑ We use the term "absentee/mail-in voting" to describe systems in which requests or applications are required. We use the term "all-mail voting" to denote systems where the ballots themselves are sent automatically to all voters. We use the hyphenate term for absentee voting because some states use “mail voting” (or a similar alternative) to describe what has traditionally been called "absentee voting."
- ↑ New Mexico OneSource, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–12–1," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Voter Bill of Rights," accessed June 24, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 New Mexico Secretary of State, “Voter Registration Information,” accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Voter Registration FAQs," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–4-5.2," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–4-5.7," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ The State of New Mexico, "Voter Registration Form," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–6-5.7," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 New Mexico Secretary of State, "Absentee and Early Voting," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Absentee Voting by Mail," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–6-10.1," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–6-10," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–6-9," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–6-14," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico Administrative Code, "1.10.12.16 MAILED BALLOT CURING PROCESS," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ Congress, "H.R.3295 - Help America Vote Act of 2002," accessed September 30, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Voting," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Provisional Voting," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–12–25.4," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico Legislature, "2025 Regular Session - SB 16," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–12–7," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–12–42," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–20-16," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–4-27.1," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," March 13, 2026
- ↑ As of January 2026, the Justice Department notes, "Six States (Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) are exempt from the NVRA because, on and after August 1, 1994, they either had no voter-registration requirements or had election-day voter registration at polling places with respect to elections for federal office."
- ↑ The United States Department of Justice, "The National Voter Registration Act of 1993," accessed January 12, 2026
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–4-24," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–4-25," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–4-27.1," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–4-22," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–4-30," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–4-28," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ ERIC, "FAQ," accessed January 12, 2026
- ↑ ERIC, "Who We Are," accessed January 12, 2026
- ↑ ERIC, "What is ERIC?" accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–14–13.2," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ New Mexico Administrative Code, "1.10.23.9 VOTING SYSTEM CHECK PROCEDURES," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "Post-Election Audits," accessed January 12, 2026
- ↑ Election Assistance Commission, "Election Audits Across the United States," accessed January 12,2026
- ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted in October 2024, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-21," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-26," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-21.1(C)," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-27," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-33," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-33," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-1," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-2(A)(1)," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-2(B)," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-2(B)(2)," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-45," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-51(C)," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-52(A)," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-36.1(B)," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-36.1(C)," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "1-8-66," accessed January April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-66(F)," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Election Code, "Chapter 1-8-66(A)," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
- ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
- ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
- ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
- ↑ 67.0 67.1 67.2 All About Redistricting, "New Mexico," accessed May 6, 2015
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "New Mexico," accessed April 19, 2021
- ↑ New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–2–1," accessed March 13, 2026
- ↑ 70.0 70.1 70.2 New Mexico Legislature, "2025 Regular Session - SB 16," accessed March 16, 2026
- ↑ 71.0 71.1 Los Alamos Daily Post, "Legislative Roundup: 31 Days Remaining In Session," February 20, 2025
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "The New Mexico Voting Rights Act Unpacked," March 22, 2023
- ↑ New Mexico Legislature, "HB 4," accessed March 13, 2026
