New Mexico Secretary of State

Election Day is upon us, and polls will open Tuesday starting at 7 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m.

Threats against election officials are on this rise in the U.S., just before a crucial midterm election that will decide which political party has control of Congress. Those threats are now pushing New Mexico’s Secretary of State to conduct Tuesday's election “off-site” for safety concerns.

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.

New Mexicans are deciding who should be the next chief elections officer for the state with incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver running against Republican Audrey Trujillo and Libertarian Mayna Myers.

KUNM found that for most folks the deadline to apply to be an election worker passed September 27th, but there are some exceptions. However, because some places might be short-staffed or have cancellations, people can still apply by calling their local county clerk's office.

In-person early voting for November elections begins October 11 in New Mexico. That’s also the first day absentee ballots can be mailed to voters who may be unwilling or unable to vote in person. KUNM spoke with the Secretary of State’s office about options for getting your ballot counted.

On June 7th, primary elections were held in New Mexico amid national concerns of low voter confidence and constant, false allegations of election fraud. Now, officials are saying voter turnout was low, but not as bad as the state's last primary election in 2018.

With New Mexico’s 2022 primary election coming up next week, the Secretary of State’s Office Tuesday launched a website dedicated to fact-checking misinformation.

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.