New Mexico absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 14 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 14 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 14 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Any registered New Mexico voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
- Visit the New Mexico absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 14 days before Election Day.
- Download the New Mexico absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 14 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 14 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
- Online applications: You can [request your absentee ballot online] (https://portal.sos.state.nm.us/OVR/WebPages/AbsenteeApplication.aspx) and must provide the following:
- New Mexico driver’s license or non-driver ID number
- Last 4 digits of your Social Security Number.
- Paper applications: No ID is required.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
You must provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number on the return envelope, underneath the privacy flap. Additionally, your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Track your ballot here: New Mexico absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if it's missing your signature or the last 4 digits of your social security number.
- You have 17 days to fix issues with your ballot in order for it to be counted.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You may request an provisional ballot (not an emergency absente ballot) if you become ill, disabled, hospitalized or otherwise confined within 5 days of Election Day. The written request must include your signature and the signature of your health care provider. You may designate a representative to retrieve the ballot from the county clerk. Your voted provisional ballot must be returned by the close of polls on Election Day
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is close of polls Election Day
Contact your local election office
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for New Mexico elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Bureau of Elections 325 Don Gaspar, Suite 300 Santa Fe, NM 87503