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A primary election is how political parties select their nominees for the General Election. Voters choose among candidates from a single party, and the winning candidate from each party then appears on the General Election ballot.

In New Mexico’s semi-open primary system, your options depend on your current party registration status:

• Major parties (DEM/REP) – you must vote the ballot of your party.
• Qualified minor parties (LIB/GRN) – you may use Same Day Registration to affiliate with a major party, or to register as Decline to State (DTS).
• DTS (not affiliated with a party) and unqualified minor parties – you may select a major party and vote that ballot in person or absentee.

Voters still cast one primary ballot in one party’s primary; the new system expands options for voters who are not currently registered with a major party.

In New Mexico’s semi-open primary system:

• Major (DEM/REP) party voters participate in their own party’s primary.
• Independent and Declined-to-State voters can choose which major party primary they’d like to vote in, without re-registering.
• Some minor-party voters may have additional options through Same Day Registration (see the FAQ about Libertarian/Green and other minor parties below).
• New or unregistered voters can still use Same Day Registration to register and participate in the primary.

If you are already registered with a major (DEM/REP) party and want to vote in that party’s primary, you do not need to change anything.

If you are registered as Independent or Declined-to-State, you may choose a major party primary ballot at the polls (and, if voting absentee, through the absentee process) without permanently changing your registration. You’ll still be listed as Independent/DTS when the election is over.

Semi-open primaries will first be used in New Mexico’s June 2, 2026 Primary Election. The Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office and the New Mexico Secretary of State are working together to update procedures, poll worker training, and voter education materials before then.

No. General Elections remain the same. All registered voters may participate in the General Election, and all eligible contests appear on your ballot based on where you live. The semi-open primary law only changes who can participate in each party’s primary election.

State lawmakers passed Senate Bill 16 so that more New Mexicans—particularly independent and Declined-to-State voters—could participate in publicly funded primary elections. Supporters of the change have highlighted several goals:

• Reducing barriers for independent and DTS voters who previously could not easily vote in primaries.
• Increasing participation in primary elections, where many important contests are effectively decided.
• Ensuring that publicly funded elections are more accessible to all eligible voters.
• Reducing administrative strain by simplifying the process at polling places.

The Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office will continue to administer elections in a nonpartisan and transparent manner under the new rules.

For Santa Fe County voters, semi-open primaries mean:

• More voters can participate in choosing who appears on the General Election ballot.
• Independent and Declined-to-State voters have a clear, straightforward way to vote in a primary.
• Voters do not have to change their long-term registration just to participate in one election.

Our office is preparing updated outreach materials, poll worker training, and website information so that every voter knows what to expect before they arrive at the polls.

Under the old closed-primary system, many independent or DTS voters had to re-register at the polls if they wanted to participate in a major (DEM/REP) party primary. This could create long lines and additional paperwork for voters, poll workers, and county staff.

The semi-open primary system is designed to:

• Reduce the number of last-minute party registration changes at polling places.
• Simplify check-in and ballot issuance for poll workers.
• Make the process more predictable and efficient for everyone involved.

The Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office will continue to collaborate with the Secretary of State and other counties to make sure the transition to semi-open primaries is smooth and well-communicated.

To confirm your current voter registration, update your address, or check your party affiliation, visit the New Mexico Voter Information Portal:

www.NMVote.org

You can also contact the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office if you have questions or need assistance.

If you are registered with a qualified minor party such as Libertarian (LIB) or Green (GRN), you may use Same Day Registration to affiliate with a major party, or to register as Decline to State (DTS).

If you are registered as DTS or with an unqualified minor party, you may select a major party and vote that ballot in person or absentee.

• May 5 – Voter registration (online and by mail) closes; Early Voting begins at county clerks’ offices; Same Day Registration available in-person during the election period.
• May 16 – Expanded Early Voting begins in participating counties.
• May 19 – Last day to request a mail-in (absentee) ballot.

For registration, sample ballots, and absentee ballot requests, visit NMVote.org.