New Mexico Absentee Voter Guide

Military and overseas voters should check out the Overseas Vote Foundation.  Long Distance Voter's forms and deadlines should only be used by voters with US mailing addresses.

Mail-In Deadlines

• Voter registration form: postmarked at least 28 days before the election
• Absentee ballot application: Received by 5PM on the Friday before the election
• Absentee ballot due: received by 7PM on Election Day

Voter Registration

To register to vote in New Mexico you must:

• be a citizen of the United States
• be a resident of the State of New Mexico
• be 18 years of age at the time of the next election
• not have been denied the right to vote by a court of law by reason of mental incapacity or felony conviction.
• If you have been convicted of a felony, you may register if you have completed all conditions of probation or parole, served the entirety of a sentence or have been granted a pardon by the Governor.

How to register to vote:

Use our Voter Registration Widget. Enter your information, print and sign the completed form, and mail it to the address printed on the form.  For faster processing, you can mail the form directly to your County Clerk's Office.

ID requirements for first-time voters:

If this is the first time you're registering in New Mexico, and you register by mail, you must include a copy of your identification with your voter registration application.  If you forget, you'll need to provide ID the first time you vote in person or by absentee ballot  Acceptable forms of ID include: a current and valid photo identification with or without an address (the address does not need to match the one at which you registered to vote) OR 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 your name and address (the address does not need to match the one at which you're registering to vote)

Voter registration verification:

You should receive written confirmation that your voter registration was processed in 2-3 weeks.  Don't panic if you never receive your voter registration card: you don't actually need it to vote.  If you not sure if your registration was processed - or if you simply can't remember if you're register to vote - you can use the voter registration verification tools here. 

Voting by Absentee Ballot

Good news! Any registered New Mexico voter may vote by absentee ballot!

How to request an absentee ballot:  

Download and complete the New Mexico absentee ballot application.  Mail your completed application to your County Clerk.  If you're application is denied for some reason, the County Clerk will notify you in writing.

ID requirements for absentee voters:

You do not need to include ID if you've already voted in New Mexico at least once.  If you are a first-time voter and you forgot to include copies of your ID with your registration form, include them with your absentee ballot application. 

First-time voters, voting absentee: if you have met the HAVA requirements for voter registration (meaning, you provided proper ID whether registering in-person or via mail) then you do not need to send additional identification with your absentee ballot. If you have not met the HAVA requirements for voter registration, you will be notified by mail, and will need to provide a copy of your identification with your absentee ballot. Acceptable forms of ID include: a current and valid photo identification with or without an address (the address does not need to match the one at which you registered to vote) OR 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 your name and address (the address does not need to match the one at which you're registering to vote).

Absentee ballot instructions:

This one is pretty straightforward. Vote your ballot, seal it, sign the envelope, and mail your completed ballot back to your County Clerk. A member of your immediate family or your caregiver may also hand-deliver your absentee ballot to the County Clerk. Your ballot must be received by your County Clerk before 7pm on Election Day to be counted.

Can you change your mind and vote in person?

No. Once you receive your absentee ballot, you cannot change your mind and vote in person on Election Day. If you apply but never receive the ballot, you can go to your polling place and vote. You will be required to sign a sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, that you did not receive your ballot. 

Additional Information