At a Glance: New Mexico
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New Mexico Voting Rules
Voter Registration Form:
A voter may request the New Mexico form by mail, telephone, or in person. The New Mexico form is on cardstock, is a permanent record and is not available online. It may not be duplicated.
Deadline to Register:
28 days prior to an election (October 7).
Voter Eligibility:
Must be 18 years old, a resident of New Mexico, and a United States citizen.
Identification Requirements:
An original or copy of a current and valid photo identification with or without an address, which address 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; or 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.
Where to Turn in Your Registration:
County Clerks Office here.
How to Register Others:
In New Mexico you must take a class in order to become a third party registrant. These are available and conducted by the County Clerks office. Click here to find the specific dates and times. At this class you are required to register with the Secretary of State, providing the name and address of the organization, and the names, permanent addresses, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers of every single person employed by or volunteering with the organization to register voters. Organizations must also provide a sworn statement from each employee or volunteer stating that he or she will obey all state laws and rules. The regulations require that all of this information be turned into elections officials before an agent does any voter registration work in the state.
The Secretary of State issued rules requiring organizations to account for all registration forms they use. The Secretary of State in turn has issued rules limiting the availability of forms to only fifty forms per request. Increases in the number of forms provided are available only at the discretion of the Secretary of State or county clerk. In addition, every form issued to third-party registration groups will include a traceable number, as well as a tear-off receipt to be given to the applicant. Voter registration organizations must now return voter registration forms to the state or county within forty-eight hours of their completion by the voter.
Absentee Voting:
Excuses: None Required.
Application Process:
The New Mexico Absentee Ballot Application is available at any county clerk's office. A voter or organization may request the New Mexico Absentee Ballot Application by mail, telephone, or in person.
The county clerk must receive the New Mexico Absentee Ballot Application no later than 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 31, 2008 for the General Election
Early Vote:
It is permitted to vote early in-person, instead of voting by mail. You may go to your county clerk's office beginning the 28th day (October 7) before the election and vote. Early voting begins on the third Saturday (October 18) before the election at alternate sites. Call your county clerk for locations.
For More Information:
New Mexico Office of the Secretary of State
State Capitol- Bureau of Elections
325 Don Gaspar Suite 300
Santa Fe NM 87503
(505) 827-3600 or (800) 477-3632
http://web.state.nm.us
Info about veterans, voting in other states, etc.
Please see this website for more information on U.S. Military Voter Services and voting overseas.
Click here to return to our Voter Registration Action Center home page.
Read our voter registration event guide here.
Visit New Mexico's state home page.