How to vote in New Mexico
On this page
- Voter registration deadline (online): 28 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Postmarked by 28 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): 5 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 5 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): 5 days before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by Election Day
New Mexico voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 28 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 28 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
- 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.
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.
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.
- 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 by 28 days before Election Day.
- 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 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.
- 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.
Voting rights are restored automatically upon completion of parole or probation.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You cannot vote while on parole.
- You cannot vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- Financial obligations:
- parole fees
- probation fees
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
New Mexico absentee and mail ballot guide
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
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 5 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 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
Any registered New Mexico voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
- 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.
- 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 by 5 days before Election Day.
- 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.
- 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 drop box if one is available nearby. 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.
- 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.
Track your ballot here: New Mexico absentee ballot tracker
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.
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 Rules
You may request an provisional ballot (not an emergency absente ballot) if you become ill, disabled, hospitalized or otherwise confined within 5 days of Election Day. 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. Your voted provisional ballot must be returned by the close of polls on Election Day
Dates & Deadlines
- 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
- Early voting starts: 28 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 3 days before Election Day
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
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.
- 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.
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.
You can register to vote online if you have a New Mexico driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID card.
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