Voting and Elections

What is ERIC and what are the benefits of this program to the State of New Mexico?

ERIC (Electronic Registration Information Center) is a non-profit organization with the sole mission of assisting states to improve the accuracy of America’s voter rolls and increase access to voter registration for all eligible citizens. New Mexico joined ERIC in July 2016.

Benefits to New Mexico:

• Improve voter registration by providing information for member states to contact potentially eligible but unregistered voters with instructions on how to register.
• Identify out-of-date records found by comparing voter registration data between states, to motor vehicle licensing agency data, and to the Social Security Administration master death index list.
• Efficient and effective data matching and cleaner voter rolls will result in such efficiencies as less returned mail, fewer provisional ballots on Election Day, shorter lines at polling places, etc.

Why is the Secretary of State sending out voter registration outreach postcards?

ERIC members are required to contact potential voters at least every two years, ahead of any federal general election. Members commit to contacting eligible but unregistered residents identified by ERIC, educating them on the most efficient means to register to vote. Members also commit to contacting voters whose registration information is identified by ERIC as inaccurate or outdated, educating voters on how to update their record.

What is a voter registration outreach postcard?

• The postcard is an invitation to register to vote online or by mail before the Upcoming General Election.
• (We have same day so no deadlines necessarily)
• 54,465 postcards were sent to state residents who appear eligible to vote, but haven’t registered. Included in the 54, 465 state residents were 4,915 New Mexicans who are 17 years old but will be 18 by the General Election and thus are eligible to participate if registered. The SOS plans to do monthly outreach to those that will be 18 in the hopes of increasing participation among young people.

Why am I getting a voter registration outreach postcard?

A matching process was conducted between the state-wide voter registration database and the motor vehicle database. It is possible that your records did not match up exactly and you were identified as not being registered to vote.

I am a non-citizen, why did I receive a voter registration outreach postcard?

If you are a non-citizen and you are in the motor vehicle database, it is likely you have received a voter registration outreach postcard. However, given your non-citizen status, you are not eligible to vote and should not register. Registering to vote if you are not eligible is a felony.

I have received a voter registration outreach postcard, but I believe I am already registered. What should I do?

If you believe you have received the postcard in error, please verify your voter record online at: nmvote.org

If you have further questions about your voter record, you may call your local county clerk; check here for your local county clerk’s address and contact information.

You can also contact the Secretary of State Elections Division at  505-827-3600.

I need to update my information and/or register to vote, where can I go?

You may update your voter registration information such as your address or party affiliation and/or register to vote on the online voter registration system located at nmvote.org​.

Voter registration forms are also available at the Secretary of State’s office in Santa Fe, all County Clerk Office’s, Motor Vehicle Division offices, and many other public assistance offices. You can also call our office at 505-827-3600  and ask for a registration form to be mailed to you or download a copy from our website here.

When is the last day to register to vote in the General Election?

Voter registration closes at 5:00 PM on October 5, 2020. The county clerk shall accept for filing any certificate of registration that is subscribed and dated on or before the twenty-eighth day preceding the election and received by the county clerk before 5:00 p.m. on the Friday immediately following the close of registration; or mailed and postmarked not less than twenty-eight days prior to the election.

To find out more information about the ERIC Project please visit: https://www.ericstates.org/