Absentee Voting

If you’re heading to the polls in New Mexico to vote on Election Day today, Nov. 8, 2022, they are open until 7 p.m. There are other considerations if you requested an absentee ballot or have yet to register to vote. Here's what you need to know as you head to the polls, including your rights as a New Mexico voter.

On the next Let’s Talk New Mexico, we’ll discuss voters and voting. We’ll talk over the latest numbers for early and absentee voting and discuss what we can glean about voting trends through early voting, demographic changes in our region and what kinds of voting policies and voter education could help foster a stronger democracy.

For voters who would prefer not to stand in line at the polls, would like to reduce their risk of COVID exposure, or who would like to take their time filling out their ballot, this Thursday, Nov. 3, is the last day to request an absentee ballot for the general election. For those who already have one in hand, election officials recommend mailing it back even sooner.

Municipal elections are underway in 26 New Mexico cities, towns and villages, including all in Sandoval County. Most are electing a mayor among other local offices. Early voting wraps up Saturday, Feb. 26.

Amid a national conversation about voting rights, we’ve seen efforts to restrict access to the ballot in other states and two federal voting rights bills stalled in the United States Congress. On this episode of #YNMG we'll cover New Mexico's Senate Bill 8, the New Mexico Voting Rights Act, which has the backing of Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. It's aimed at expanding voting access by making it easier to vote and even allowing new classes of people a chance to cast ballots.

Legislation moving through the state Senate aims to make absentee voting easier. The proposal reflects a new study that shows more than three times as many New Mexicans voted this way in the 2020 election.

A new bill to expand voting access in New Mexico seeks to clarify the ballot drop box requirement after several counties pushed back on the state’s interpretation of the rule last year. But the proposal would also reduce the requirement for nearly all counties.

In order to increase voting access, a new state rule requires each county to provide one secured ballot drop box for every 25,000 voters with a minimum of…