How to vote in New Mexico
New Mexico voter registration guide
New Mexico voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): 28 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked 28 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
Check your New Mexico voter registration status
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your New Mexico registration using the New Mexico voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
New Mexico voter registration rules
To register in New Mexico you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of the State of New Mexico
- be 18 years old by Election Day
- not have been denied the right to vote by a court of law by reason of mental incapacity
- if you have been convicted of a felony, you must have completed your sentence, including probation and parole.
New Mexico online voter registration
- You can register to vote online if you have a New Mexico driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID card.
- Visit the New Mexico online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 28 days before Election Day .
New Mexico by-mail voter registration
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: New Mexico requires you to provide your full social security number. Your social security number and date of birth will remain confidential and will not be disclosed to the public.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You must register with a party if you want to take part in that party’s primary election, caucus, or convention.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked 28 days before Election Day .
New Mexico in-person voter registration
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your New Mexico driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and New Mexico address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
New Mexico same day registration
- Summary: New Mexico has same day registration. You can register and vote during the early voting period and on Election Day.
- Where to go:
During the early voting period, go to your local election office. Some counties may also have expanded early voting sites where you can register and vote on the same day. Click here to see if your early voting site has same day registration.
On Election Day, go to your designated voting location. Click here to find where to vote.
- What to bring:
Bring your New Mexico driver's license or state ID card issued by the Motor Vehicle Division of the Tax and Revenue Department, a non-expired student photo ID from a New Mexico school along with a current student fee statement that includes your address, or any document that contains your name and address along with a photo ID.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Registering to vote in New Mexico with a felony conviction
If you have been convicted of a felony and would like to register to vote, please visit Restore Your Vote. They will help you determine your eligibility and guide you through the process.
New Mexico absentee and mail ballot guide
New Mexico absentee ballot overview
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
New Mexico absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 5 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 5 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 5 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
New Mexico absentee ballot rules
Any registered New Mexico voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
New Mexico online ballot request (recommended)
- Visit the New Mexico absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 5 days before Election Day .
New Mexico by-mail ballot request
- Download the New Mexico absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received 5 days before Election Day .
New Mexico in-person ballot request
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 5 days before Election Day .
After you receive your ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided drop box. Please check with your local election office if your county has a drop box. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day .
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day .
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
New Mexico absentee ballot ID requirements
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot: * Online application: You must provide your New Mexico driver's license number, state ID number, or the last 4 digits of your social security number. * Paper application: The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot: You must provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number on the return envelope, underneath the privacy flap. Additionally, your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
New Mexico absentee ballot tracker
Track your ballot here: New Mexico absentee ballot tracker
New Mexico absentee ballot curing
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if it's missing your signature or the last 4 digits of your social security number.
- You have 17 days to fix issues with your ballot in order for it to be counted.
New Mexico emergency ballots
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot RulesIf you become ill, disabled, hospitalized or otherwise confined after the mail ballot request deadline (5 days before Election Day), you may request a provisional ballot. The written request must include your signature and the signature of your health care provider. You may designate a representative to retrieve the ballot from the county clerk. The completed provisional ballot must be returned by the close of polls on Election Day
- Emergency ballot request starts close of business 5 days before Election Day
- Emergency ballot request ends Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is close of polls Election Day
Contact your local election office
New Mexico early voting guide
New Mexico early voting dates
- Early voting starts: 28 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 3 days before Election Day
What to bring
Most New Mexico voters do not need to show ID. First time New Mexico voters should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show any non-expired photo ID, but if you do not have a photo ID you may show a student ID, tribal ID, current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and current address. university. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address. Additionally, Albuquerque and Rio Rancho require ID from all voters for local elections.
New Mexico voter ID guide
ID requirements for voting in person
Most New Mexico voters do not need to show ID. First time New Mexico voters should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show any non-expired photo ID, but if you do not have a photo ID you may show a student ID, tribal ID, current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and current address. university. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address. Additionally, Albuquerque and Rio Rancho require ID from all voters for local elections.
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail ballot
- Online application: You must provide your New Mexico driver's license number, state ID number, or the last 4 digits of your social security number.
- Paper application: The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
ID requirements when returning an absentee or mail ballot
You must provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number on the return envelope, underneath the privacy flap. Additionally, your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
ID requirements for online voter registration
You can register to vote online if you have a New Mexico driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID card.
ID requirements for same day registration
Bring your New Mexico driver's license or state ID card issued by the Motor Vehicle Division of the Tax and Revenue Department, a non-expired student photo ID from a New Mexico school along with a current student fee statement that includes your address, or any document that contains your name and address along with a photo ID.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for New Mexico elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Bureau of Elections 325 Don Gaspar, Suite 300 Santa Fe, NM 87503
External resources
- New Mexico online voter registration
- New Mexico online absentee ballot request
- New Mexico voter status lookup
- New Mexico absentee ballot tracker
- New Mexico provisional ballot tracker
- New Mexico polling place locator