Alamogordo NM
5-02-2024 4:02pm

Early Voting Begins May 7th, 2024 for Primary Election. Must Be Registered with a Party to Participate in Primary in New Mexico

Voting begins for the New Mexico primary on May 7th, 2024. Primary election day will be held on June 4, 2024. Early voting begins May 7, 2024. These dates can affect whether voters can participate in the primaries being held by political parties in the state.

If you’re a first-time voter in New Mexico, registration is necessary. If you are not registered or need to update address or other pertinent information, the registration must be filed by May 7th, 2024 to participate in the primary.

For returning New Mexico voters, registration is permanent. But if you’ve recently moved or have not voted in several years, verify your registration status. A new registration form must be submitted to change party affiliation. The three recognized parties that allow for primary voting in New Mexico are Republican, Democrat and Libertarian.  

If someone doesn’t want to register to vote online, they can register to vote through the mail by filling out the official paper application (English / Español) and mailing it to their local county clerk’s office. Mailing addresses for county clerks are found here.

If you are not registered to the three major parties you are ineligible to vote in the primary election but will be eligible for the General election in November. 

Note: in Otero County, New Mexico, a few Republican races are contested in the primary only, but not contested in the General Election, as an example the Otero County Treasurer's race. 

Thus, if a voter is not registered Republican in the primary, they will NOT be able vote for the eventual office holder between the 16 year experienced deputy treasurer, Rachael Black, and the inexperienced, Karl Melton.

The seat to replace Bill Burt, who announced his retirement from District 33 which represents Chaves, Lincoln & Otero Counties, that is being contested in the Republican primary, will more than likely determine the winner in the very Red district. The 3 Republican district 33 candidates are:  Rhonda Beth Romack (R) of Ruidoso, Mayor Lynn D. Crawford of Ruidoso and Commissioner, Nicholas Allan Paul (R) of Alamogordo.

Data show there are more than 310,000 New Mexicans who are old enough to vote but are not registered.

There are an estimated 1,638,985 people of voting age in New Mexico, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

As of Jan. 31, there were 1,328,593 people registered to vote in New Mexico, according to the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office.

How to switch political parties as outlined by the Secretary of States Office per Alex Curtas, a spokesperson with the New Mexico Secretary of State as reported by Source New Mexico.

New Mexico has what’s called a “modified open primary,” Curtas said.

The primaries are technically closed, so a voter must declare a party affiliation and only vote for candidates on that party’s ticket.

But around 25% of New Mexico voters are not affiliated with one of the three major political parties in the state.

Because of the state’s same-day registration option, those people who aren’t affiliated with a major party can switch their party affiliation and vote on the same day. This is available during general elections and primary election, but could also have a drastic impact on party politics during primaries.

If someone is undeclared or not affiliated with any major party, they can go to any polling place during early voting or on election day, choose their party and vote in that party’s primary.

"If someone is already affiliated with a major party, however, they cannot switch their party and vote on the same day," Curtas said.

"Any person can switch their party affiliation online or by mail before May 7," Curtas said.

The latest New Mexico Secretary of State data show 43.5% of registered voters are Democrats; 31.1% are Republicans; and 23.3% are either independent, unaffiliated with any party or declined to select a party.

Another 1.1% are registered Libertarians and 0.9% are marked “other” in the statewide voter statistics.

The ACLU says of New Mexico's voting rights laws that "New Mexico is showing the rest of the U.S. how to strengthen our democracy and expand voting access at a time when countless states nationwide are trying to undermine our fundamental right to vote. By leading with fundamental values of equality under the law and free and fair elections, New Mexico is stepping up to be a nationwide leader in voter rights."

ABSENTEE VOTING IN PERSON:

Absentee ballots may be marked in person at the
County Clerk’s sub-office at the County Administration Building, 1101 New York Avenue, Room 101 May 7th through May 31st, 2024, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
and Saturday, June 1st, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

EARLY VOTING:

 Otero County Fairgrounds, 401 Fairgrounds Road, Alamogordo, NM
May 18th thru June 1st , 2024, Tuesday thru Saturday from 10:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m

Inn of The Mountain Gods, 287 Carrizo Canyon Road, Mescalero, NM May 29th through May 31st , 2024, Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m.

Chaparral Far South Fire Station, 827 Luna Street, Chaparral, NM May 30th through June 1st, 2024, Friday - Saturday, From 8:00 am – 5:00 p.m.

MOBILE VOTING

Tularosa Public Safety Facility, 609 St. Francis Drive, Tularosa, NM
Saturday, May 18th , 2024 from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 

Cloudcroft High School Gym,10 Swallow Place, Cloudcroft, NM Saturday, May 25th , 2024 from 10:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m.

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