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): 3 days before 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 tool.
- 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's license, driver's permit, or state-issued photo ID card.
- Visit the New Mexico online voter registration tool.
- 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 number or state ID number with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent 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.
- Notes:
In 2021, Same Day Registration will be from 28 days prior to the election through Election Day.
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.
- The deadline to apply by mail is: 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 dropbox. Please check with your local election office if your county has a dropbox. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official dropbox.
- 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: The 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 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 a photo ID issued by any state or the federal government, a tribal ID, a student ID from an accredited college or university, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and current address. Additionally, if you are from Albuquerque or Rio Rancho, you must show ID 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 a photo ID issued by any state or the federal government, a tribal ID, a student ID from an accredited college or university, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and current address. Additionally, if you are from Albuquerque or Rio Rancho, you must show ID 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
The 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 to register to vote online
You can register to vote online if you have a New Mexico driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued photo ID card.
ID requirements for same day registration
Bring your New Mexico driver's license number or state ID number with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
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