Voting by mail is usually easy, popular, and secure—so convenient, even the president does it. In New Mexico, more than 115,000 people voted by mail in 2024.
There are all kinds of reasons you might want to cast an absentee ballot instead of going to your polling place in person.
So what do you need to know to be able to receive a ballot, send it in the mail, and make sure it gets counted?
The first thing you’ll need to do is request an absentee ballot from the secretary of state’s office. In New Mexico, any eligible voter can request an absentee ballot two weeks before Election Day, Nov. 3, and you can do it online, mail it, or by calling your county clerk’s office.
After receiving it, filling it out, and signing the ballot, you’ll send it back to the county clerk’s office where it’ll be counted. An immediate family member or caregiver can hand-deliver your absentee ballot if you choose, and anyone else is barred by state law from dropping off your ballot.
If you vote by mail, it’s important that you send your ballot with enough time for it to be properly counted before 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Usually, there’s no issues getting absentee ballots delivered. But this year, the Trump administration has introduced a new concern for absentee voters.
In June, the United States Postal Service (USPS) proposed a new rule that would require states to share voter data with the federal government. The USPS proposed the rule to comply with an executive order that directs USPS to not deliver their absentee ballots for voters in states that refuse to cooperate.
A federal judge ruled that the executive order was unconstitutional, but the US Department of Justice appealed it to the US Supreme Court. Advocates say that limiting voters’ access to mail-in voting would disenfranchise older Americans, voters with disabilities, and rural communities.
New Mexico’s secretary of state and attorney general have publicly opposed the USPS rule and have vowed to maintain the election processes to guarantee every New Mexican’s vote is counted.
Some states are recommending that voters who vote by mail should plan on sending their ballots earlier.
Once you’ve sent your absentee ballot, New Mexico has a website where you can track your ballot and confirm it was counted.
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