Voting and Elections

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Automatic Voter Registration (AVR)?

Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) ensures that effective July 1, 2025, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) customers who are also qualified electors will be automatically registered to vote pursuant to state law.

What is new at the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD)?

Up until June 30, 2025, the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) customers have been offered the opportunity to register to vote and designate their political party affiliation while applying for or updating their driver’s license or identification card.

Starting July 1, 2025, if an individual is not registered to vote and they are eligible based on New Mexico state laws, the individual will be automatically registered to vote through MVD and they will receive a notice from their county clerk providing them with information on what to do next.

Who is a qualified elector or a qualified voter?

A qualified elector or elector must be

• A U.S. citizen
• A New Mexico resident
• At least 18 years old.

For in-depth voter registration eligibility requirements, please visit:

https://www.sos.nm.gov/voting-and-elections/voter-information-portal-nmvote-org/voter-registration-information/

or

https://www.sos.nm.gov/voting-and-elections/voting-faqs/voter-registration/

What happens when I get a notice from my county clerk?

The notice from your county clerk will have all the information you need to know about being a registered voter, including, but not limited to, requesting a mailed ballot for an election and how to choose a political party ballot for an upcoming Primary Election.

It will also provide you information on how to decline to be registered to vote. See the “What do you want to do?” section on the notice for more information.

If the notice is not returned to the county clerk, you will remain a registered voter.

What if I don’t want to vote?

Being registered to vote does not require you to vote. It simply means you may vote if you choose to do so. If you do not want to be registered to vote, you may opt-out by returning the notice you received by mail from your county clerk.

Does registering to vote mean I have to do jury duty?

Pursuant to state laws, New Mexico Courts compile jury duty lists from many sources, including lists of those with driver’s license or identification cards as well as the list of registered voters. Opting out of voter registration will not automatically remove you from a jury duty list.

What if I want to update my voter registration information?

You can make changes to your voter registration information by visiting your county clerk’s office (URL: https://www.sos.nm.gov/voting-and-elections/voter-information-portal-nmvote-org/county-clerk-information/).

Do I have to pick a political party?

No, recent changes to New Mexico election law allows voters registered as “No Party Affiliation” (or Decline to State – DTS) to vote in primary elections. If you are registered with a minor party, however, you may not vote in a Primary Election unless you update your voter registration to reflect a major party or No Party Affiliation (DTS).

You can update your political party selection by returning the AVR notice with the selected party of your choice or by contacting your County Clerk’s Office.

What if I have more questions about voting or AVR?

You can visit sos.nm.gov or NMVote.org for information about elections, voting, and voter registration.