Voter Info for the 2026 Primary

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📣 Quick Highlights

• ✅ Same-day registration (in person)

• ✅ Early voting at any Voter Convenience Center

• ✅ Future-ready reforms tested in Santa Fe County

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🗓 2026 Primary: Key Dates & Deadlines 

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• Request an absentee ballot for the primary  - Mid April 2026

• Online/Paper Voter Registration Closes  - Tuesday, May 5, 2026

• Early Voting Begins (Clerk’s Offices) - Tuesday, May 5, 2026

• Expanded Early Voting Begins - Saturday, May 16, 2026

• Deadline to Request Absentee Ballot for the 2026 Primary - Tuesday, May 19, 2026

• Same-Day Registration (in person at polling sites ) - May 5 – June 2, 2026

• Primary Election Day - Tuesday, June 2, 2026

 

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Check your voter registration →

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🗳 Semi-Open Primary: What It Means for You

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New Mexico has a semi-open primary system.

• If you're registered with a major party (Democratic, Republican) by the time the online/paper registration deadline closes, you shall remain affiliated with that major party to vote in its primary. You cannot switch major parties during the early voting or Election Day period.

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• If you're registered as "Decline to Select (DTS)" : You may select the Democratic or Republican Party ballot at an early voting site or on Election Day, and then vote in that party's primary. If you are a "DTS" and have chosen to vote absentee or permanent absentee, you will select your primary party ballot preference. 

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• If you're registered as a minor party, you may use same-day registration to affiliate with either the Democratic or Republican Party at an early voting site or on Election Day, and then vote in that party's primary.

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Important:  You may change your party affiliation again after the primary is over once the election audit is over.

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📅 How to Register or Update Your Info

• Register or update your info here →

• You can register online until Tuesday, May 5, 2026

• You can register or update in person during early voting or on Election Day

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✉️ Vote by Mail / Absentee Voting AKA Pajama Voting

• Request your absentee ballot early (the portal typically opens mid-April)

• Return by mail, in person, or in a drop box (if available)

• Deadlines matter: Ballots must be received by 7 PM on Election Day. We recommend not mailing your ballot within 10 days of Election Day. Use a drop box.​

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Santa Fe County has the most permanent drop boxes per capita, several of which are drive-up. Because you don't have to leave your car (or pajamas), Clerk Katharine Clark coined the term Pajama Voting to assist her county's voter outreach efforts . Every open polling site also has a ballot drop box. 

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🔍 Track Your Ballot

• All New Mexico voters now have access to online absentee ballot tracking through the Secretary of State’s portal​

• Check your ballot status here: NM Ballot Tracker →

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Santa Fe County was the first election office in New Mexico to implement a ballot tracking program in 2021, giving voters real-time visibility into the status of their ballots. The New Mexico Secretary of State's Office has since adopted an online statewide ballot tracking portal available to all voters.

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As Secretary of State, Katharine Clark plans to expand voter tools statewide, modeled after Santa Fe County's innovative systems.

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🚪 Vote Early or In Person

• Early voting begins 28 days before the election at the Clerk's Office

• Expanded early voting begins 18 days out at additional locations throughout counties

• Election Day: Vote at any Voter Convenience Center in your county

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Find your polling place →

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Same-day registration is available at all early voting and Election Day locations. Minor party voters must use this process to affiliate with a major party before receiving a ballot. Santa Fe County has a polling site wait-time map at santafe.vote

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📖 Know Your Voting Rights

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You have the right to:

• Register and vote on the same day while polls are open (in person with proper ID and documentation)

• Vote even if your name is not on the rolls (provisional ballot)

• Language assistance is available if needed

• Vote absentee without an excuse

• Cure your absentee ballot if it’s rejected 

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❓ Common Questions

Can I vote in the primary if I’m Decline to State?

Yes, by using same-day registration to affiliate with a major party.

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Can I switch from Democrat to Republican during early voting?

No. Major party voters cannot change parties during the election period.

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What if I'm registered with a minor party?

You may use same-day registration to switch to a major party and vote in the primary. If you are "DTS or Decline to Select" you simply choose which party with whom to vote.

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What if my absentee ballot is rejected due to incomplete information?

If you forget to sign your ballot and/or forget the last 4 of your social secuirty numbers, counties will notify you and allow a fix. Santa Fe County goes the extra mile and will even knock on your door to make sure you know to cure your ballot.

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Can I vote early?

Yes. You can vote early at any designated early voting site.

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Is absentee voting safe?

Yes. Ballots are verified, tracked, and audited.

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👥 Help Others Vote

• Share this guide with your friends and family

• Volunteer to be a poll worker

• Post reminders about deadlines and early voting on social media

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🌟 A Message from Katharine Clark

We’ve built some of the most trusted, modern, and voter-friendly systems in the country right here in Santa Fe County—from wait time mapping to security alerts to data transparency tools.

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As your Secretary of State, I’ll bring that same level of security, innovation, and trust to every voter in New Mexico. Voting should be easy to understand, safe to participate in, and responsive to your life. Let’s build the future of democracy together.

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— Katharine E. Clark
Santa Fe County Clerk
Candidate for Secretary of State

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This page is provided for informational and educational purposes. For official election updates, visit the New Mexico Secretary of State's office at sos.nm.gov.