Voting in New Mexico, 2026

Every date and deadline for the November 3 general election, from registering to the final certificate, and who signs off on the result.

Right nowEarly voting is open in New Mexico through Saturday, October 31.Election Day in 7 days

Every date, in order

Tue, Oct 6 · passed
Early voting begins
Tue, Oct 20 · passed
Last day for mail ballot applications
Absentee applications must be received by Tuesday October 20, 2026, 14 days before Election Day.¹
Sat, Oct 31 · 4 days
Early voting ends
Early voting runs from Tuesday October 6 through Saturday October 31, 2026.¹
Tue, Nov 3 · 7 days
Election Day; Registration deadline; Mail ballots must arrive
The deadline to register is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Voters can register and vote the same day, and mail and online registration closes Tuesday October 6, 2026. Absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.¹
Fri, Nov 13 · 17 days
County/Local canvass; County/Local certification
Counties canvass within 10 days of the election, by November 13. Counties over 150,000 people have until November 16.²
Tue, Nov 24 · 28 days
State canvass; State certification
The statewide canvass takes place on the third Tuesday after the election, November 24.²
After certification
Deadline to contest the result
A contest must be filed within 30 days after the certificate of election is issued.³

Questions people ask about voting in New Mexico

Q. When does early voting end in New Mexico?

Early voting runs from Tuesday October 6 through Saturday October 31, 2026.

Q. When is the deadline to register to vote in New Mexico?

The deadline to register is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Voters can register and vote the same day, and mail and online registration closes Tuesday October 6, 2026.

Q. What is the last day to request a mail ballot in New Mexico?

Absentee applications must be received by Tuesday October 20, 2026, 14 days before Election Day.

Q. When does my mail ballot have to arrive in New Mexico?

Absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Q. Who certifies the election in New Mexico, and by when?

The county canvassing board, usually the county commission, approves the county canvass and sends the results to the Secretary of State. Counties must finish the canvass and declare results within 10 days after the election, November 13, 2026, or by November 16 (13 days from Election Day) in counties over 150,000 people. The State Canvassing Board, the Governor, the Secretary of State and the Chief Justice, approves the canvass report of the Secretary of State and certifies the statewide results. The state canvassing board declares the results on the third Tuesday after the election, November 24, 2026.

Q. What happens after the count in New Mexico, and when is there a recount?

Official results may be delayed in the event of an automatic recount, which is required under Section 1-14-24 NMSA 1978 when the margin is less than one percent of the votes cast for the office, or one half percent for local questions.

Q. How long is there to contest an election in New Mexico?

A contest must be filed within 30 days after the certificate of election is issued.

Sources

Vote.org, New Mexico Election Center, https://www.vote.org/state/new-mexico/
NCSL, Canvass Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/canvass-deadlines
NCSL, Contested Election Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/contested-election-deadlines
NASS, State Election Canvassing Timeframes and Recount Thresholds, https://www.nass.org/node/2455
Bolts, Who counts our elections, https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/who-counts-our-elections/
NCSL, Election Certification Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/election-certification-deadlines

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