Voter's Rights

Thanks to a law passed in 2023, 17,000 New Mexicans had their right to vote restored! Now, people who are no longer incarcerated can register to vote, regardless of their felony conviction(s).

If you know someone who is incarcerated and is getting out soon, let them know that they should be able to register to vote at the correctional facility where they are housed before their release. People who are on probation and/or parole are also eligible to register to vote.

In New Mexico, voters with a felony conviction who are not currently incarcerated are eligible to vote. This includes individuals who are on probation or parole.

Eligible voters with felony convictions who are not currently incarcerated may register to vote using the registration options available to all other voters—by mail, online up to 28 days before an election, or in person.

Unfortunately, people who are incarcerated for felony convictions cannot register to vote, except with the help of staff at the correctional facility shortly before their release.

Their registration was canceled, and they will need to re-register upon their release.

If you are denied by a county clerk or voter registrar because of a past felony conviction, you can refer them to New Mexico statute number 1-4-27.1, which is the 2023 law allowing you to vote immediately upon release. If they still refuse to allow you to register, please get in touch with the Secretary of State’s office by calling 505-827-3600 or emailing [email protected].

Local governments have tried to cut Native voters out of the democratic process for decades: denying funding for polling locations, lack of language access, placing polling locations hundreds of miles away from tribal communities, not recognizing rural addresses, failing to consult with tribes before changing elections and more.

In 2023, the New Mexico State Legislature passed House Bill 4 (HB 4), the New Mexico Voting Rights Act, which includes the Native American Voting Rights Act (NAVRA).

• The law mandates consultation and cooperation with the Tribes so that the people who know their community most make the decisions about what is needed.
• Tribes themselves can now designate where polling places should be and make other decisions that help their very different communities’ voting needs.
• Due to issues in identifying home addresses in rural communities, the law allows tribes to establish an “Alternate Registration Location” address on tribal land for tribal members to register under.
• Native language translation must be available at reservation polling sites

For more information about Native voting rights, check out NM Native Vote.

• No ID requirement to cast a ballot.
• Check eligibility online
• Register to vote online
• Find polling location
• Info for absentee and early voting

• If the polls close while you’re still in line, stay in line – you have the right to vote.
• If you make a mistake on your ballot, ask for a new one.
• Ask for a paper ballot if the machines are down at your polling place.
• If you run into any problems or have questions on Election Day, call the Election Protection Hotline:
  • English: 1-866-OUR-VOTE / 1-866-687-8683
  • Spanish: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA / 1-888-839-8682
  • Arabic: 1-844-YALLA-US / 1-844-925-5287
  • For Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, or Vietnamese: 1-888-274-8683