Become a NM Employed Poll Worker - Free and Fair Elections New Mexico 2026

# Eligibility | Requirement | Details | Source | | ------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Registration/Voter Status** | Be a voter of the county in which appointed to serve | [NMSA 1978 § 1-2-7(A)(1)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/19%20Regular/bills/house/HB0407.pdf); [NM Secretary of State, Aug 2026](https://www.sos.nm.gov/2026/08/03/the-new-mexico-secretary-of-states-office-to-celebrate-national-poll-worker-recruitment-day-on-august-11) | | **Residency** | Live in the county where you'll serve | [NMSA 1978 § 1-2-7(A)(1)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/19%20Regular/bills/house/HB0407.pdf); [NM Secretary of State, Aug 2026](https://www.sos.nm.gov/2026/08/03/the-new-mexico-secretary-of-states-office-to-celebrate-national-poll-worker-recruitment-day-on-august-11) | | **Literacy** | Be able to read and write | [NMSA 1978 § 1-2-7(A)(2)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/19%20Regular/bills/house/HB0407.pdf) | | **Capacity** | Have the necessary capacity to carry out an election board member's functions with acceptable skill and dispatch | [NMSA 1978 § 1-2-7(A)(3)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/19%20Regular/bills/house/HB0407.pdf) | | **Oath of Office** | Execute the election board member's oath of office | [NMSA 1978 § 1-2-7(A)(4)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/19%20Regular/bills/house/HB0407.pdf); [NM Secretary of State, Aug 2026](https://www.sos.nm.gov/2026/08/03/the-new-mexico-secretary-of-states-office-to-celebrate-national-poll-worker-recruitment-day-on-august-11) | | **Age (Standard)** | 18+ years old at time of election | [NM Secretary of State, Aug 2026](https://www.sos.nm.gov/2026/08/03/the-new-mexico-secretary-of-states-office-to-celebrate-national-poll-worker-recruitment-day-on-august-11) | | **Age (Student Clerks)** | 16–17 year olds can serve as Student Election Clerks (§1-2-7(D) NMSA 1978) | [NMSA 1978 § 1-2-7(D)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/19%20Regular/bills/house/HB0407.pdf); [NM Secretary of State, Aug 2026](https://www.sos.nm.gov/2026/08/03/the-new-mexico-secretary-of-states-office-to-celebrate-national-poll-worker-recruitment-day-on-august-11) | | **Technology** | Basic computer skills, mobile phone, and email address required | [NM Secretary of State, Aug 2026](https://www.sos.nm.gov/2026/08/03/the-new-mexico-secretary-of-states-office-to-celebrate-national-poll-worker-recruitment-day-on-august-11) | | **Mental Capacity** | Not legally declared mentally incapacitated | [NM Secretary of State, Aug 2026](https://www.sos.nm.gov/2026/08/03/the-new-mexico-secretary-of-states-office-to-celebrate-national-poll-worker-recruitment-day-on-august-11) | | **Candidate Restriction** | Cannot be a candidate or close relative (spouse, parent, child, sibling, in-law) of a candidate on the ballot | [NM Secretary of State, Aug 2026](https://www.sos.nm.gov/2026/08/03/the-new-mexico-secretary-of-states-office-to-celebrate-national-poll-worker-recruitment-day-on-august-11); [Bernalillo County Clerk](https://www.berncoclerk.gov/poll-workers) | | **Law Enforcement Restriction** | Cannot be a sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, or state/municipal police officer | [NMSA 1978 § 1-2-7(C)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/19%20Regular/bills/house/HB0407.pdf); [Ballotpedia, Oct 2024](https://ballotpedia.org/Poll_worker_requirements_in_New_Mexico) | | **Party Distribution** | No more than two out of three election judges may belong to the same political party | [Ballotpedia, Oct 2024](https://ballotpedia.org/Poll_worker_requirements_in_New_Mexico); [NM Secretary of State, Aug 2026](https://www.sos.nm.gov/2026/08/03/the-new-mexico-secretary-of-states-office-to-celebrate-national-poll-worker-recruitment-day-on-august-11) | | **Training Required** | Must attend at least one school of instruction for the election at which appointed and be certified by county clerk | [NMSA 1978 § 1-2-17(E)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/19%20Regular/bills/house/HB0407.pdf); [NM Secretary of State, Aug 2026](https://www.sos.nm.gov/2026/08/03/the-new-mexico-secretary-of-states-office-to-celebrate-national-poll-worker-recruitment-day-on-august-11) | | **Minor Appointment** | Up to two minors allowed per election board; must meet all qualifications except voter eligibility, be 16–17 years old, be U.S. citizen, have parent/guardian approval unless emancipated | [NMSA 1978 § 1-2-7(D)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/19%20Regular/bills/house/HB0407.pdf) | # Compensation and Training | Component | Details | Source | | --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Minimum pay** | At least federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour) | [NM Secretary of State, Aug 2026](https://www.sos.nm.gov/2026/08/03/the-new-mexico-secretary-of-states-office-to-celebrate-national-poll-worker-recruitment-day-on-august-11); | | **Maximum pay** | Up to $400 per day for full-day shifts (§1-2-16 NMSA 1978) | [NM Secretary of State, Aug 2026](https://www.sos.nm.gov/2026/08/03/the-new-mexico-secretary-of-states-office-to-celebrate-national-poll-worker-recruitment-day-on-august-11) | | **Early voting pay** | County clerks set wages for early voting period workers | [NM Secretary of State, Aug 2026](https://www.sos.nm.gov/2026/08/03/the-new-mexico-secretary-of-states-office-to-celebrate-national-poll-worker-recruitment-day-on-august-11) | | **Training required** | Attend an official training before each election | [NM Secretary of State, Aug 2026](https://www.sos.nm.gov/2026/08/03/the-new-mexico-secretary-of-states-office-to-celebrate-national-poll-worker-recruitment-day-on-august-11) | | **Oath of office** | Required for all poll workers | [NM Secretary of State, Aug 2026](https://www.sos.nm.gov/2026/08/03/the-new-mexico-secretary-of-states-office-to-celebrate-national-poll-worker-recruitment-day-on-august-11) | # Hiring The NM Secretary of State's office delegates poll worker recruitment to individual county clerks, you'll need to contact your specific county clerk's office to confirm their application process and pay rates. For contact information, see the table below. See also this [August 3, 2026 press release from the New Mexico Secretary of State](https://www.sos.nm.gov/2026/08/03/the-new-mexico-secretary-of-states-office-to-celebrate-national-poll-worker-recruitment-day-on-august-11/). | **County** | **Clerk Contact** | **Phone** | **Email / Notes** | | ---------- | --------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Bernalillo | Bureau of Elections | 505-468-1291 (press 4) | [email protected] [Poll worker info](https://www.berncoclerk.gov/poll-workers) | | Chaves | Cindy Fuller, County Clerk | 575-624-6614 | [email protected] [How to become a poll worker](https://www.chavescounty.gov/your-county/departments/clerk-s-office/elections-voting/poll-workers/how-to-become-a-poll-worker) | | Colfax | Bureau of Elections | 575-377-2226 | Proof of residency (utility/bank statement) + photo ID required [Bureau of Elections](https://www.co.colfax.nm.us/community/bureau_of_elections.php) | | Curry | Bureau of Elections | 575-763-5591 | Text: 575-366-9669 [Bureau of Elections](https://www.currycountynm.gov/elected-officials/clerk-s-office/bureau-of-elections) | | Doña Ana | Lorena Padilla, Election Official Coordinator | 575-647-7428 | [email protected] [Training central](https://www.donaanacountyelections.com/training-central) | | Eddy | Bureau of Elections | 575-885-3383 | [email protected] [Elections & voter info](https://www.co.eddy.nm.us/219/Elections-Voter-Information) | | Grant | Connie Holguin, County Clerk | 575-574-0042 | Application via Election Worker Portal [Elections](https://grantcountynm.gov/218/Elections) | | Lincoln | Kavila, Bureau of Elections Clerk | 575-648-2394 ext. 127 | [email protected] [Poll worker info](https://lincolncountynm.gov/government/elected_officials/county_clerk/poll_worker_information.php) | | McKinley | Marlene Custer, Manager of Bureau of Elections | 505-722-4469 | Toll-free: 800-245-1771 [Bureau of Elections](https://www.co.mckinley.nm.us/151/Bureau-of-Elections) | | Rio Arriba | Sarah Archuleta, Poll Worker Coordinator | 505-753-1780 | [email protected] [Poll worker info (PDF)](https://www.rio-arriba.org/files/assets/county/v/1/clerk/documents/election_poll_worker_info.pdf) | | Roosevelt | Mandi Park, County Clerk | 575-356-8562 | [email protected] [County Clerk](https://www.rooseveltcounty.com/county-clerk) | | Santa Fe | Kristy Brusso, Election Worker Outreach Coordinator | 505-995-9578 | [email protected] [Poll worker info](https://www.santafecountynm.gov/clerk/community-outreach/election-workers) | | San Juan | Bureau of Elections | 505-334-9471 or 1-833-955-8683 | Navajo bilingual persons especially needed [Become a poll worker](https://www.sjcounty.net/government/county-clerk/election-department/for-voters/become-a-pollworker) | | Sandoval | Bureau of Elections | 505-476-2589 | [email protected] [Compensation & reqs](https://www.sandovalcountynm.gov/countyclerk/bureau-of-elections/poll-worker-compensation-and-reqs) | | Taos | Anna Martinez, Chief Deputy Clerk | 575-737-6381 | Bureau of Elections, 105 Albright Street [Bureau of Elections](https://www.taoscounty.org/175/Bureau-of-Elections) | | Valencia | County Clerk | 505-866-2076 | Must be registered voter in Valencia County [Poll official application](https://co.valencia.nm.us/DocumentCenter/View/36279/POLL-OFFICIAL-APPLICATION) | ## **Additional Counties (Contact via Secretary of State Directory)** The remaining 17 counties can be reached through the NM Secretary of State's county clerk directory: [https://www.sos.nm.gov/voting-and-elections/county-clerk-information](https://www.sos.nm.gov/voting-and-elections/county-clerk-information) | County | Clerk | Phone | Email | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------- | ------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Cibola | Natalie A. Grine | 505-285-2535 | [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) | | De Baca | Jeffrey Barfield Hromas | 575-355-2601 | [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) | | Torrance | Sylvia Chavez | 505-544-4350 | [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) | | Union | Devian Fields | 575-374-9491 | [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) | | Catron, Guadalupe, Hidalgo, Lea, Luna, Mora, Otero, Quay, San Miguel, Sierra, Socorro | Contact via SOS directory | — | — |