Bureau of Elections

Frequently Asked Questions 

If You Cannot Find the Answer to Your Question Here, Please Call the Bureau of Elections at 505.468.1291 to Talk to One of Our Friendly and Knowledgable Staff!

1. Who May Register to Vote?
2. When May You Register?
3. How Do I Register?
4. Who May Register Voters?
5. What Information is Required?
6. Where Will I Vote?
7. What if I Don't Register in A Political Party?
8. When Are the Polls Open?
9. Can I Vote Early?
10. What About Regular Absentee Voting?
11. What About Armed Forces Voters?
12. Other County Clerks's Offices:
13. What about Overseas Citizens voters? 

Anyone who is:

• A Resident of New Mexico;
• A citizen of the United States;
• Not legally declared mentally incapacitated;
• Felons who have completed all of the terms and condition of their sentencing-See Restoration of Voter rights;
• Eighteen years or older at the time of the next election.

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You may register to vote at any time.  In order to be eligible to vote in an election, the county clerk of your county must receive your voter registration application no later than 5:00 p.m. 28 days prior to any election.   

For information on the dates for close of registration, contact your county clerk.

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• You may register in person at the Office of the County Clerk or at the Secretary of States Office

   

•  You may request a voter registration application be mailed to your residence.  These forms are available at county clerk’s offices or at the Secretary of State’s Office.  Pursuant to the Help America Vote Act, if the voter registration application is submitted by mail and it is the first time you have registered in this county or the state of New Mexico, you must submit a copy of a current valid photo ID or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address in this county.  Submitting this identification information will allow you to avoid being required to show personal identification at the polling place on Election Day.

   

• You may register to vote when applying for a new or renewed driver’s license, when applying for certain public assistance or services, at public libraries, colleges and universities.

   

• You may register at any organized voter registration drive or with any Third Party Voter Registrant Agent

   

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• You may register yourself by mail by using a self-registration form.  This application may be obtained by contacting the County Clerks Office or Secretary of State’s Office.
• You may go to any Third Party Registrant Agent
• Any Clerks Office or Secretary of State’s Office Staff within the respective offices.

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The application for registration requires the following information: 

• Name, gender, birth date, social security number, residence address, mailing address (if different from your residence) party affiliation, telephone number (optional), date and signature.  

Note:  A post office is not a physical residence.  Please use a street address or provide the rural address description with a map, at the bottom of the application. 

You cannot be assigned to a polling place unless the County Clerk has the location of your residence. 

• If you have changed your address, you will be asked the county and/or state of your last registration.
• If you have changed your name, you will be asked your full name as previously registered.  

You will also be required to answer the following questions: 

• Are you a citizen of the United States?
• Will you be 18 years of age on or before Election Day?
• Are you a resident of New Mexico?  

After completion of the form sections 1-8, you are required to read the “Attestation of Qualification” then sign and date.

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After the Office of the County Clerk processes your voter registration application, you will receive a voter’s identification card (wallet-card).  The wallet card will provide your Precinct Number, and your state and local districts for your location.  A phone number will also be provided if you have any questions on polling locations or elections.

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 Any applicant may choose to check the “No Party” box on the application; however, New Mexico has a closed primary, so only those registered in a major political party may participate in the primary election. The major political parties in New Mexico are:                      

• Democratic Party
• Republican Party 

Voters who are affiliated with all other political parties or voters who have no political party affiliation (Declined to State) may not vote in a primary election in New Mexico.

However, all voters regardless of political affiliation are invited to participate in all other elections.

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Polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. If you are in line when the polls close, you may still vote.

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Yes, Any registered voter may go to any early voting location established by the County Clerk and cast their ballot. Early voting begins at 10:00 a.m. on   the third Saturday prior to any statewide election, and closes at 6:00 p.m. the  Saturday immediately prior to the election. The hours of early voting are from  12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Early voting locations are closed on Sundays and Mondays. Contact the County Clerk for a list of early voting locations. 

Absentee-In-Person voting begins 28 days prior to a statewide election in the office of the County Clerk. The County Clerk may allow this to be done on an Electronic Voting Machine. For more information, contact your county clerk.   
clerk@bernco.gov

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Absentee Voting is done by mail and on a paper ballot. Anyone may vote  absentee as long as they are registered in the county in which he/she resides.  Any voter may choose to vote absentee in New Mexico. Absentee Voting  begins on the 28th days prior to an election, however you may apply for an absentee ballet at any time. Absentee ballot applications may be requested from the office of your County Clerk. If you have any questions on absentee voting , please contact your County Clerk, clerk@bernco.gov


Note: An application must be filled out in order to receive an absentee ballot. 

Absentee ballot applications may be requested from the office of your County Clerk.

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 Members of the Armed Forces, (Army, Navy, Air force, Marines, Coast  Guard, and Merchant Marine) Their Spouses and Dependents of voting age may also vote absentee. It is important that if you are active military, you contact your commander of voting officer for the proper procedure in applying for and casting an absentee ballot. Voters in this category fall under the Uniformed Services and Overseas Citizen Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) 

Please visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program website sponsored by the Department of Defense at www.fvap.gov to review UOCAVA. 

Absentee ballot applications may be requested from the office of your county clerk. clerk@bernco.gov

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   What about Overseas Citizens voters? 

For Overseas Citizens who may wish to vote by absentee ballot, contact your Embassy for information of how to apply for an absentee ballot. 

Note: If the voter does not have an active voter registration on file in the county for which the voter is applying for an absentee ballot, then the voter can only vote for federal offices, i.e. President, US Senate, US Representative (Congress). If the voter does have an active voter registration on file in the county for which the voter is applying for an absentee ballot, then the voter will receive a full ballot i.e. all candidates and issues applicable to the precinct in which the voter is registered. 

Absentee ballot applications may be requested from the office of your County Clerk. 

If you have any questions please contact your County Clerk, clerk@bernco.gov      

For more information, contact your local County Clerk: clerk@bernco.gov  

The Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office is located at:

For more information, contact the Bureau of Elections, at Office of the Secretary of State or call 1-800-477-3632

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