Bureau of Elections

FAQ Am I Registered?Polling Locations Precinct/District Maps
General Election Candidates Nov. 4, 2008

Contact

Lynn J. Ellins

Supervisor

845 N. Motel Blvd.
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88007
Voice: (575) 525-6156
Fax: (575) 525-6158
TDD: (575) 525-5951

Frequently Asked Questions

Registering to Vote

Who can register to vote?
When can I register to vote?
Where do I register to vote?
Can I register or change my registration by mail?
Why do you need to know where I live?
Why do you need my Social Security number?
Must I register as a member of a political party?
What is a major political party?
May I register by using my business address?
What if I move to a new address?
What if my name changes?
How do I change my political-party affiliation?
Do I need to register for each election?
How will I know if my voter registration or change has been accepted?

Voting

How do I vote absentee by mail and do I need a reason?
When does absentee voting by mail and voting early in person begin?
Can I register to vote at the polls on Election Day?
What is a "provisional ballot?"
What is a Primary Election and when is it held?
What is a General Election and when is it held?
Can I receive assistance if I need it in order to vote?
Why do I vote at different places in different elections?
Why do I vote somewhere else when there is a polling place closer to my house?
How can I find out who is running for office and how the ballot will look?
How do I become a candidate?
If I become a candidate, what kinds of reports must I file and with what office?
How do I become a poll worker?

Who can register to vote?

Anyone who is a United States citizen, is or will be 18 on or before the next Election Day, and has established a permanent residence in New Mexico.

You can register to vote or change your voter registration at any time except from the 28th day preceding an election until the Monday following an election. The County Clerk will still accept the registration during this time, but it cannot be processed until the registration books re-open.

At the Doña Ana County Clerk's Office, 845 North Motel Blvd., Las Cruces. You may also register at any of the following locations:

ANTHONY

ANTHONY WIC OFFICE
865 N. MAIN
(575) 882-2221

CHILDREN YOUTH & FAMILIES
945 ANTHONY DR.
(575) 882-7871

HUMAN SERVICES DEPT.
220 CROSSETT
(575) 882-5781(x212)

CHAPARRAL

CHAPARRAL WIC OFFICE
317 MCCOMBS
(575) 824-4585

HATCH

HATCH PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE
112 W. HALSELL
(575) 267-5213

DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES
1997 FRANKLIN
(575) 267-1686

LAS CRUCES

ASNMSU OFFICES
2ND FLOOR CORBETT CENTER
NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
(575) 646-4415

CHILDREN YOUTH & FAMILIES
760 N. MOTEL BLVD. STE. C
(575) 524-6046 (X 119)

COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND
277 E. AMADOR STE.101
(575) 524-6450

COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY
320 WYATT DR.
(575) 527-8799

DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES
505 S. MAIN STE. 357
(575) 524-6215

DOÑA ANA HEALTH OFFICE
5595 ELKS RD.
(575) 523-7991

EAST MESA PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE
5220 HOLMAN RD
(575) 382-0641 EXT. (111)

LAS CRUCES HOUSING AUTHORITY
926 SAN PEDRO ST.
(575) 526-5541

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES EAST
2121 SUMMITT COURT
(575) 524-6568 (X180)

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WEST
655 UTAH AVE.
(575) 524-6500

NEW MEXICO BORDER HEALTH OFFICE
1170 N. SOLANO
(575) 528-5754

NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
226 S. ALAMEDA
(575) 524-6250

NEW MEXICO WORKS OFFICE
750 N. MOTEL BLVD
(575) 523-7580

MOUNTAIN SHADOWS
800 N. TELSHOR STE B
(575) 521-1366

MVD EXPRESS
3961 E. LOHMAN STE 20
(575) 373-1367

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE WEST
1850 COOPER LOOP 1A
(575) 523-7202

THE ABILITY CENTER
715 E. IDAHO BLDG. 3-E
(575) 526-5016

SUN COUNTRY CASE MANAGEMENT
133 WYATT DR.
(575) 525-1969

THOMAS BRANIGAN MEMORIAL LIBRARY
200 E. PICACHO
(575) 528-4010

NEW MEXICO VETERAN’S COMMISSION
2024 E GRIGGS AVE
(575) 524-6220

VOCATIONAL REHAB
210 NEVAREZ
(575) 524-6135 (X109)

MESILLA

LA CLINICA DE FAMILIA
ONATE PLAZA STE. 7
(575) 524-3571

SUNLAND PARK

SUNLAND PARK PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE
3807 MCNUTT RD.
(575) 589-0805

DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES
880 MCNUTT RD
(575) 589-5015

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE

MCAFFEE WIC CLINIC
BLDG. 530 MISSLE RANGE
(575) 678-1138

DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES BLDG. HT 304 MISSILE RANGE
(575) 678-8824

Yes. Call the Doña Ana County Bureau of Elections at (575) 647-7428 and a return-address, postage pre-paid registration form will be sent to you. All you have to do is fill it out and mail it back.

When the Bureau of Elections receives your voter-registration form, a precinct and polling place are assigned to you based on where you live. Your physical address determines the precinct and polling place to which you are assigned.

State law requires us to obtain your Social Security number (NMSA 1978, § 1-5-19). It is used for voter-identification purposes, and to avoid multiple registrations by a single individual. Certificates of voter registration accepted by the County Clerk are public records and open to inspection by the public with the exception of your Social Security number and date of birth (NMSA 1978, § § 1-4-5 and 1-4-12).

No. It is not necessary to register with a political party in order to vote. However, New Mexico is a “closed” primary state, meaning that you must be registered with a major political party (Democrat or Republican) in order to vote in that party’s primary election.

A political party is designated as “major” if its candidates received at least 5 percent of the total number of votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial or presidential race, and whose membership is at least one third of the state's total registered voters. A “minor” political party in one in which none of its candidates received at least 5 percent of the votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial or presidential race.

No. Your precinct and polling place are based on where you live. It is unlawful to use an address for voter-registration purposes that is not your permanent residence. You may, however, use any address (including a post-office box) for a mailing address.

If you have moved or changed your mailing address, you should fill out a new registration form. It is important that you notify the County Clerk’s Office of any change in either your residential or mailing address. If you don't, you may be required to cast a provisional ballot on Election Day, as discussed below.

If your name changes by marriage or other legal process, you must fill out a new registration form.

You simply fill out a new registration form. Registered voters may change their party affiliation at any time up to 5 p.m.on the 28th day preceding an election.

No. Your voter registration is permanent, unless you don’t vote for four (4) years and/or if you fail to return a voter notice from the Bureau of Elections. Your registration will automatically be cancelled if the County Clerk’s office is notified that you have moved from the county, been convicted of a felony or been declared mentally incompetent.

A voter-information card will be mailed to you. This card will include information identifying your polling place, and the districts in which you reside and can vote for (Congress, State Legislature, School Board, etc.).

No, you do not need a reason to vote absentee; any registered voter may vote absentee. To request an absentee ballot, contact the following offices for the related elections:

Doña Ana County Clerk's Office for statewide, county, special and school district elections -
Dona Ana County Clerk Office
845 N. Motel Blvd.
Las Cruces, N.M. 88007
(575) 647-7428

Las Cruces City Clerk for city elections -
Las Cruces City Clerk
200 N. Church St.
Las Cruces, N.M. 88001
(575) 541-2115

Village of Hatch for village elections -
Village Clerk
837 W. Hall St.
Hatch, N.M. 87937
(575) 267-5216

Town of Mesilla for Town elections -
Town Clerk
2231 Avenida De Mesilla
Mesilla, N.M. 88046
(575) 526-0889

City of Sunland Park for city elections -
City Clerk
1000 McNutt Rd.
Sunland Park, N.M. 88063
(575) 589-7565

In statewide, county, special and school-district elections, a person may vote by mail beginning on the 28th day before Election Day. The absentee ballot must be received at the County Clerk’s Office either by mail or personal delivery by no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. The ballot may also be delivered to the polling place in which the voter is registered by 7 p.m. on Election Day. For town, village and city elections, please consult with the appropriate Clerk’s Office.

In statewide, county and special district elections, a person may vote early in person at the Doña Ana County Clerk's Office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, starting on the 28th day preceding the election, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Saturday before the election (The deadline is 25 days preceding a school-district elections).

In addition, beginning on the third Saturday before a Primary or General Election Day, a person may vote early in person at any one of seven locations from Noon to 8 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the first Saturday through the Saturday immediately preceding Election Day. Early-voting locations will be posted on this website approximately 45 days prior to Election Day.

For city, town and village elections, please consult with the appropriate municipal Clerk’s Office.

Yes and no. You may register at the polls, but you will not be eligible to vote that day, and your registration will not be filed until the Monday following the election. To qualify to vote, you must be registered at least 28 days prior to Election Day.

A provisional ballot is a way of ensuring that every eligible voter has a chance to cast a ballot.

When a voter goes to vote in a precinct in which he or she is not registered, there is no record in that precinct as to where the voter resides or even if s/he is registered. As a result, the voter is given the option to locate the correct polling location and go there, or fill out a provisional ballot. The ballot is then sealed in an envelope and turned over to a poll worker. Shortly after Election Day, the Canvassing Board appointed by the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners opens the envelope and searches the voter-registration rolls to determine whether the voter is registered, eligible to vote and did NOT cast a vote at his/her polling place. If so, the ballot is accepted and the votes that the voter is qualified to cast are counted.

Provisional ballots should be avoided, whenever possible. When a voter votes outside of the precinct in which s/he is registered, that precinct may have candidates on the ballot for whom the voter is not entitled to vote. For instance, that precinct may have a different State Senator or County Commissioner than the one who actually represents the voter’s home address. In that situation, votes cast for such a candidate will not be counted. Likewise, the voter may miss the opportunity to vote for the candidates who actually represent him/her in a local race.

A Primary Election is held by each major political party for the purpose allowing registered party voters to select the candidates who will represent their party in the General Election. A voter registered in one party may not vote for candidates in another party.

The Primary Election is held on the first Tuesday in June in each even-numbered year. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A General Election is held to determine which candidates from all parties, including write-in candidates, will be elected to serve in the office for which they are running. In the General Election, you can vote for any candidate, regardless of your political party or unaffiliated registration.

The election is held on the first Tuesday in November in each even-numbered year. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Yes, assistance is available to any voter who is blind, physically disabled, unable to read or write, or who requires assistance in operating the voting machine. The voter must tell the poll worker in advance that assistance is required, and the voter will then be accompanied to the ballot booth by a person of the voter’s choice EXCEPT the voter’s employer or agent, an officer or agent of the voter’s labor union, or a candidate whose name appears upon the ballot.

Primary and General Elections are held in all precincts and polling places in the county. To save money, however, precincts can be consolidated for localized elections. When consolidation occurs, several precincts are designated to vote at a single polling location. Thus, the voter may vote at one location in the General and Primary Elections but at another location in a county, municipal, special or school-district election.

By law, precinct boundary lines must be drawn using physical boundaries like streets, arroyos, power lines, etc. If a voter lives on one side of a precinct boundary line, the voter is not entitled to vote in the adjoining precinct, even if the adjoining precinct's polling place is closer to the voter’s home.

Sample ballots are available at the Doña Ana County Clerk's Office in advance of each election and at the polls on Election Day. The sample ballot will look the same as the ballot on the voting machine.

For municipal or school election, contact the appropriate city, town or village clerk for sample ballots.

The requirements for each office are different. Please contact the appropriate county, city, town or village clerk for specific information, and to determine which services they may make available to candidates, i.e., voter registration lists, etc.

If a voter is interested in running for office in a partisan election (as a Democrat, Republican, minority party, independent or write-in candidate), it is important that the voter’s registration is correct in January of the even-numbered election year when the Governor issues the Proclamation of Election.

Candidates are required to file various campaign reports, primarily detailing receipts and expenditures. This is done on-line at the Secretary of State’s website. Click on the Candidate Information Page for instructions and forms. You will need Adobe Acrobat to view and print documents.

Contact the Doña Ana County Bureau of Elections at (575) 647-7428. You must be a registered voter, although party affiliation is not a factor. Presiding judges receive $150 for working on Election Day, and $25 for picking up precinct voting supplies on the Monday before Election Day. Judges and clerks receive $125 for their services on Election Day.