Voting and Elections

**Updates for the 2021 Special Congressional Election**

How do I make sure my vote is counted in the 2021  Special Congressional Election?

• If you choose to vote in-person in your county you will place your completed ballot in the vote counting machine and can view that it was counted.
• For those voters using an absentee ballot, Intelligent Mail Barcodes will be used on all mailed ballots. This technology gives voters detailed information about the status of their ballot (when their application was received, when their ballot was sent to them, when it was received by their county clerk, etc.). This will allow you to track your absentee ballot from the application stage all the way to when it’s counted by your county clerk.
• If you mail your ballot back but it still has not been received by Election Day, you still have the option to go to a polling place and cast a ballot. You will just need to sign an affidavit cancelling the mailed ballot you submitted.

What if I receive my absentee ballot but don’t mail it back in time. What can I do?

• There are multiple ways for voters to return their absentee ballot. If mailing it, do so by May 25, 2021. Or, you can drop off your ballot at your county clerk’s office or at any polling location in your county during Early Voting or on Election Day.

Military or Overseas Voters – Please click here to find further information

Absentee voting by mail or in person

Voters may cast an absentee ballot or vote in person at their local County Clerk’s office or an early voting location prior to Election Day. No excuse is required to vote with an absentee ballot. If you are registered to vote in Congressional District 1, you may now visit NMVote.org to request an absentee ballot, find an early voting location, and more!

Request an Absentee Ballot

Absentee voting begins on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 for the Special Congressional Election. Request an absentee ballot by filling out an application and returning it to your local County Clerk. Applications can be obtained by:

• Fill out an application online by Clicking Here
• Contacting your County Clerk’s Office in person, phone, mail or email
• Downloading an Absentee Ballot Application here and mailing it or hand delivering it to your County Clerk’s Office

• Absentee ballot requests through the Secretary of State’s website for the 2021 Special Congressional Election will be accepted until 5:00 PM on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.
• Voters can request an absentee ballot for the 2021 Special Congressional Election from their county clerk through Tuesday, May 18 2021. Requests must be made by this deadline so that the appropriate county clerk can process and mail the ballot  in a timely manner.
• NOTE: County clerks with precincts in Congressional District 1 will provide early in-person voting on Saturday, May 29, 2021. 

Applications must be received by the County Clerk no later than 5:00 pm on Tuesday, May 18 2021.  A ballot will be sent to voters who have properly filled out the application.  If the application was not completed correctly, a notification with the reason why the application was not accepted will be sent within 24 hours of receipt of the application.

To check the status of your Absentee Application, go here or contact your County Clerk’s Office.

If you do not receive the absentee ballot, please contact the County Clerk’s Office no later than Friday, May 28, 2021.

Request an Accessible Absentee Ballot

For the first time in New Mexico, absentee voting has expanded to be more accessible.  Absentee ballots have been designed so that a voter who is blind or visually impaired may independently use their own nonvisual or low-vision technology to mark their ballot.

• Fill out an application online by CLICKING HERE.
• An email address is required for delivery of the electronic absentee ballot.
• Please read and complete the certification document required to provide the electronic absentee ballot.

Applications must be received by the County Clerk no later than 5:00 pm on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.  A ballot will be emailed to voters who have properly filled out the application and an official return envelope will be mailed and must be used to return the absentee ballot.

If you do not receive an email with a link to your absentee ballot, please contact the County Clerk’s Office no later than Friday,  May 28, 2021.

Return an Absentee Ballot

All absentee ballots may be returned to the County Clerk’s Office or any Election Day polling location no later than 7:00 PM on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 – Election Day.

Early Voting

Early voting begins in the office of the county clerks on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, and alternate early voting locations open on Saturday, May 15, 2021. Early voting continues through Saturday, May 29, 2021. Please check locations and hours of operation by visiting NMVote.org or by contacting your County Clerk’s Office.