Voting and Elections

Request an Absentee Ballot

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

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.

• 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.

How does the permanent absentee list work?

Eligible voters can now opt-in to the permanent absentee list to automatically be sent an absentee (mail-in) ballot for each statewide election by their county clerk.

Voters can sign up for the permanent absentee list while requesting an absentee ballot through NMVOTE.ORG – the option is available during “Step 4 – Ballot Delivery Method” where the voter will check a box to be added to the list (if they are eligible).

Voters can also sign up for the permanent absentee list by checking a box on the paper voter registration form.

NOTE: Voters are not eligible for the permanent absentee list if they want their ballot delivered to an out of state address.

Voters can request to be removed from the list at any time by contacting their county clerk.

A voter will be removed from the voluntary permanent absentee list by the county clerk for the following reasons:

(1) the voter fails to return a mailed ballot in two consecutive elections, including at least one general election;

(2) the county clerk has sent a mailed ballot or other piece of election mail to the voter’s mailing address and was then returned as undeliverable;

(3) the voter’s certificate of registration is canceled;

(4) the voter updates their certificate of registration indicating an address that is outside of the county for which the voter is listed on the voluntary permanent absentee voter list; or

(5) the voter submits a written request to the county clerk requesting to be removed from the voluntary permanent absentee voter list.

What is the deadline to request an absentee ballot?

• The county clerk must receive the application for an absentee ballot no later than 14 days prior to election day (Section 1-6-5(A), NMSA 1978).
• Within twenty-three (23) days of Election Day, the county clerk must either mail the ballot or notice of rejection to the applicant as soon as practicable; provided that the ballot or a notice of rejection is sent not later than twenty-two (22) days before the election (Section 1-6-5(F), 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?

• Yes, but must execute an affidavit stating that the person did not and will not vote the mailed ballot that was issued. (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 apply for a replacement absentee ballot by communicating with the county clerk and requesting a replacement mailed ballot be delivered to the voter; and executes an affidavit and the county clerk has voided the mailed ballot previously issued to the voter. (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; provided that the voter has subscribed the official mailing envelope of the 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).​​

How much does it cost to mail my Absentee Ballot?

• Return postage is pre-paid. Please ensure you return the ballot with enough time for it to arrive at your County Clerk’s office before 7 pm on  Election Day.  For more details, log on to the Voter Information Portal.  ​​

The outer envelope of my Absentee Ballot requests an AV Register Number. Do I fill this out?

• You can leave that information blank. This information is for internal use only.