Absentee Voting by Mail

If I choose to vote absentee by mail, what must I include on the application for an absentee ballot?

• Each application for an absentee ballot shall be signed by the applicant and shall require the applicant's printed name, year of birth and registered address.
• If you registered for the first time in New Mexico and submitted the registration form by mail and did not provide a copy of your identification with your voter registration, then you must submit with the form a copy of (1) a current and valid photo identification; or (2) a current 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 current address.

How do I request an absentee ballot?

Click here to download an Application for Absent Voter Ballot.
Mail your Application for Absent Voter Ballot to your County Clerk's Office.

• The Application for Absent Voter Ballot is also available at any county clerk's office.  A voter may request an application by mail, telephone, or in person. 
• Additional options for registering and requesting an absentee ballot for military and overseas voters are available under federal and state law.  Please visit the Military and Overseas Voter Information page for more details.

What is the deadline to request an absentee ballot?

• The county clerk must receive the Application for Absent Voter Ballot no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 3, 2016 for the 2016 Primary Election, and Friday, November 4, 2016 for the General Election (Section 1-6-5 (H), NMSA 1978).
• Within twenty-two (22) days of Election Day, the county clerk must either mail the ballot or notify the voter why the application was not accepted within 24 hours of receipt of the application (Section 1-6-6(B), NMSA 1978).

If I apply for an absentee ballot and receive it, can I change my mind and vote at my polling place on Election Day?

• No, not if you received the ballot. If you apply for an absentee ballot and receive it, you must vote with that ballot (Section 1-6-16 (A), NMSA 1978).

What if I do not receive my absentee ballot?

• If you apply for, but do not receive the absentee ballot, you may go to the county clerk's office until 5:00 p.m. Monday, June 6, 2016 for the Primary Election and Monday, November 7, 2016 for the General Election, and apply for a replacement absentee ballot (Section 1-6-16 (B), NMSA 1978).
• You may also go to your polling place and vote on a replacement absentee ballot on Election Day, after signing an affidavit of non-receipt of absentee ballot (Section 1-6-16.1 (A), NMSA 1978).
• In both cases, you will be required to sign a sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, that you did not receive your ballot.

Who can take the absentee ballot back to the county clerk?

• A member of your immediate family or your caregiver may hand-deliver your absentee ballot.  An unrelated third party may not deliver another voter's absentee ballot (Section 1-6-10.1, NMSA 1978).

When does an absentee ballot have to be returned for it to be counted?

• Ballots must be returned to the county clerk or voter's precinct by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day to be counted (Section 1-6-10 (B), NMSA 1978).