VOTING & ELECTIONS
The Santa Fe County League of Women Voters offers a variety of helpful information on how to register to vote along with more advanced information like becoming a Voter Registration Agent.
Scroll down to learn more or use the links below to go to a section of interest.
SHORCUT TO SECTIONS:
Registration/Projects under 18 years
When to register to vote
You CAN register to vote at any age, but it is RECOMMENDED you register (preregister) when you turn 16 years old.
When you can vote
- You can vote if you will turn 18 years old before the date of the general election, or
- If you are 17 years old at the time of a primary and will be 18 years old by the date of the general election.
- NOTE: If you registered to vote before you were 18 years old, when you become eligible to vote you will receive notification from the Secretary of State. The notification will include your voter registration card.
The League of Women Voters High School Civic Engagement Project
The League of Women Voters of Santa Fe County prioritizes civic education for students. To support this endeavor the League has created the High School Civic Engagement Project (HSCEP). The League offers community connections, time and resources to teachers and students. The Project’s goal is to foster student’s active participation in our democracy.
The HSCEP works with teachers, students, Santa Fe County Clerk, volunteers and interns to support civic education in high school. The activities include: (1) Recruit high school students to register students to vote (2) Identify and support student involvement in civic events and election initiatives and (3) Provide teachers civics education professional developmennt opportunities.
For more information on the High School Civic Engagement Project click here.
If you are interested in learning how your high school can join the Project, contact the League of Women Voters at 505-982-9766
Registration over 18 years
To be eligible to vote, you must be
- A US citizen (Permanent Residence Status with a “Green Card” does NOT constitute citizenship)
- 17 years old to vote in the primary election if you will be 18 years of age by the next general election
- A resident of New Mexico
- Not legally declared mentally incapacitated
- NOTE: If you have been convicted of a felony and completed the conditions of your probation or parole you are eligible to vote. To check your status call the New Mexico Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole Division. at 505-827-8830 . You may be asked for written documentation when you register to vote.
- Click here for additional information
When to register or update your registration
- You are a first-time voter and you will be 17 years old at the time of the next primary election and 18 years old at the time of the next general election
- Your address has changed
- Your name has changed
- You want to change your party affiliation
- NOTE: A new law (SB672) passed in the 2019 New Mexico regular legislative session allows voter registration the Saturday before the Tuesday of a local, general or primary election. STARTING IN 2021 THERE WILL BE SAME DAY REGISTRATION FOR PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTIONS.. (See Resource Section below for more information).
- Click here for additional information
How to register
When completing the voter registration form, you will need the following information:
- Applicant’s name
- SSN or Drivers License Number or State ID Number issued by Motor Vehicle Department
- Physical address (not PO Box)
- Signature
- NOTE: Information on your application must match information on file at the MVD; i.e., your social security number, driver’s license number, state identification number and date of birth.
- Click here for additional information
Where to register
- Online at the Secretary of State. Click here to register (You will need a New Mexico Driver’s License Number).
- At the Santa Fe County Clerk Bureau of Elections office at 100 Catron St, Santa Fe.
- At the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) Field Office at 2546 Camino Entrada, Santa Fe.
- At any of the voter registration locations on the following list. Click here for listing
- With third party Voter Registration Agents (VRAs) at community events and wherever a VRA may be present.
How/Why to check the status of your registration
It is important to check status and accuracy of your voter registration for the following reasons:
- To make sure you are registered to vote and that your voter registration card has been mailed, click here
- To make sure that the information on your voter registration matches the name, address and social security number on your driver’s license, click here
- To tract your abosentee ballot application and ballot, click here
- Maintenance Checks, mandated by federal law, are conducted by the Secretary of State comparing your voter registration information with the MVD database. If the information does not match, the Secretary will send you a voter address confirmation postcard asking you to update your voter registration information. To avoid receiving a postcard 1) check your voter registration information to make sure it matches the information on your New Mexico driver license and 2) if you have moved, update your voter registration accordingly. If you do not keep your information current, it could prevent you from being eligible to vote.
Voter Resources
Request Voter Registration for an Event
If you would like voter registration services for an event at your organization, call the League of Women Voters at 505-982-9766. Please provide the following information when you make your request:
- Name of organization
- Address of event
- Date and time you want voter registration services
- Number of individuals at the event
Become a Third Party Voter Registration Agent
- A third party Voter Registration Agent (VRA) is any person, entity, or organization (not a state or federal agency) that assists in registering a person to vote.
- VRAs must be certified by the County Clerk or the Secretary of State . The certification process includes a training course and a multiple choice test on which you must score at least 80% to pass. The process takes approximately 1/2 hour.
- If you are interested in becoming a VRA, contact the Santa Fe County Clerk located at 100 Carton St, Santa Fe or call 505-986-6280 to make an appointment.
- Click here for more information on VRA Qualifications
Request Third Party Voter Registration Agent Training
The League of Women Voters provides training for VRAs in addition to what the County Clerk offers. You can request VRA training by calling 505-982-9766. When making the request, please provide the following information:
- Name of organization or group
- Address where training would be provided
- Date and time you want VRA training
- Number of individuals to be trained
NM Legislative Session 2019 New Laws that Affect Voting
- HB407-Election Laws and 50-year Tune-Up (click on the items below for more information on HB407)
- SB672-Early and Auto Voter Registration (click on the items below for more information on SB672)
- SB4-Temporary Election Changes (click on the items below for information on SB4)
Voter Registration Agent (VRA) Materials
Click on an item below for more information:
- Secretary of State VRA Manual
- VRA Training Video
- Third Party Voter Registration Log
- List of Materials for Tabling
- League of Women Voters of Santa Voter Registration Protocol
- Request for Information form
- NM Vote 411 Website
- Application for Membership to League of Women Voters
- Become an Election Worker