Voting and Elections

**Updates for the 2020 General Election**

I’ve seen news stories about the US Postal Service (USPS) and potential delays in mail delivery. Should I be concerned about this affecting mailed ballots for the election?

• Voters in New Mexico who follow the recommended guidelines should be confident in the efficient delivery of their mailed ballots for the 2020 General Election. Though 46 states received a USPS letter with concerns about the General Election, New Mexico received a USPS letter explaining that “your voters should have sufficient time to receive, complete, and return their ballots by the state’s deadlines.”
• We made changes to some election deadlines and procedures during the recent special legislative session to better accommodate the influx in mail ballots used by voters because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The most important thing to know for voters who will be using an absentee ballot for the 2020 General Election is that you should mail your completed ballot back to your county clerk no later than October 27th to ensure it arrives before 7pm on Election Day.

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 October 27th. 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.

How do I make sure my vote is counted in the 2020 General 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.

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. 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, October 6, 2020 for the General 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 2020 General Election will be accepted until 5:00 PM on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
• Voters can request an absentee ballot for the 2020 General Election from their county clerk through Tuesday, October 20, 2020. Requests must be made by this deadline in order for the absentee ballot to be mailed by the appropriate county clerk in a timely manner.
• NOTE: All county clerks in New Mexico will provide early in-person voting on Saturday, October 31, 2020. 

Applications must be received by the County Clerk no later than 5:00 pm on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.  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 Monday, November 2, 2020.

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, October 20, 2020.  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 absentee ballot, please contact the County Clerk’s Office no later than Monday,  November 2, 2020.

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, November 3, 2020 – Election Day.

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

Early Voting

Early voting begins in the office of the county clerks on Tuesday, October 6, 2020, and alternate early voting locations open on Saturday, October 17, 2020. Early voting continues through Saturday, October 31, 2020. Please check locations and hours of operation by visiting NMVote.org or by contacting your County Clerk’s Office.