As part of her commitment to protecting democracy and ensuring the state’s 2020 elections proceed as efficiently and normally as possible, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver today announced the opening of her Office’s online absentee ballot portal in light of New Mexico’s ongoing public health emergency regarding the COVID-19 outbreak.

The online absentee ballot application portal can be accessed directly at this link or through the Secretary of State’s Voter Information Portal NMvote.org. New Mexico’s primary election will take place on June 2, 2020.

“Though the ongoing public health emergency has disrupted much of our day-to-day lives, I want to make sure every eligible voter in New Mexico has an opportunity to cast their ballot,” said Secretary Toulouse Oliver. “Opening the online absentee portal a month early is just one of the ways my Office, and election administrators around the state, are taking steps to ensure safe and efficient elections this year. Though there will still be in-person voting during the early vote period and on June 2nd, I encourage voters to utilize an absentee ballot as a way to fulfill your civic duty to vote while also fulfilling your civic duty to practice social distance.”

New Mexico has what’s known as “no-fault” absentee balloting, a pro-voter policy meaning that any eligible New Mexico voter can request an absentee ballot for any reason. The first day County Clerks can mail requested primary election absentee ballots to voters this year is May 5, 2020; the last day a voter can request an absentee ballot for the primary election is May 28, 2020.

All absentee ballots may be returned by mail (with postage already paid for by the state) to the voter’s County Clerk’s Office, or in-person at an alternative voting location, mobile alternative voting location, or any Election Day polling location no later than 7:00 pm on June 2, 2020.

The Secretary of State has also set up an FAQ page for absentee ballots on her website at this link.

REMINDER: The Secretary of State’s Office has suspended all in-person services and transactions without an appointment as a proactive measure during the public health emergency. This suspension applies to both our Elections Division and our Business Services Division. There will be no further face-to-face processing, with the exception of Apostilles and limited election-related filings.

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