# Make Sure Your Absentee Ballot Is Counted
## **Request Your Absentee Ballot by the Deadline**
- **Deadline for requesting an absentee ballot be sent to you by mail:** Your application **must be received** by your County Clerk's office by **Tuesday, October 20, 2026** (14 days before Election Day).
- **Ways to request an absentee ballot:**
- Online through the NM Secretary of State's portal at **NMVote.org** (requires NM driver's license or state ID).
- Download and mail a paper application.
- Call, email, or visit your County Clerk's office to request a paper application.
- In person at your County Clerk's office.
- **If requesting within 14 days of Election Day,** **request in person**, not by mail.
**Important:** The application must be _received_ by the deadline, Tuesday, October 6, 2026, *not just postmarked.*
## **Wait for Your Ballot to Arrive**
- County Clerks begin mailing absentee ballots **28 days before Election Day** (starting **October 6, 2026**).
- Allow time for postal delivery to you and for your completed ballot to return.
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## **Complete the Ballot Carefully**
- Follow all instructions on the official return envelope.
- Fill in all required voter information under the privacy flap.
- Sign the official return envelope — **this is required**.
- Ensure your signature matches your voter registration record.
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## **Return Your Ballot by the Deadline**
- **Deadline:** Your voted ballot must be **RECEIVED** by **7:00 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026**.
- This is a **receipt deadline**, not a postmark deadline.
**Complete the ballot as soon as possible**
**Ways to return your completed ballot**
*Recommended:*
- **Drop off at your County Clerk's office**.
- **Deliver to any Election Day polling location** in your county.
- **Use an official secure ballot drop box** in your county.
*Alternative:*
- **Mail it back** — mail as soon as completed and by October 20, which is two weeks before Election Day, November 3, to help ensure delivery. Because of uncertainty about postal service, do not return by mail after October 20. Use one of the other methods, listed above.
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## **Track Your Ballot Status**
- Use the [**NM Vote Portal** (NMVote.org)](https://voterportal.servis.sos.state.nm.us/WhereToVote.aspx) to check the status of your ballot
- Or call your local County Clerk's office to inquire about ballot receipt and acceptance
- Tracking will show whether:
- Your ballot was received by the County Clerk
- Your ballot has been accepted (signature verification passed)
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## **Know Who Can Return Your Ballot**
Per New Mexico state law, only the following people may deliver your absentee ballot:
- **You** (the voter)
- **Your caregiver**
- **Your immediate family** (spouse, children, parents, or siblings)
If someone else returns the ballot on your behalf, they must sign the official return envelope.
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## **Special Circumstances to Note**
**First-Time Voters:**
- If you're a first-time voter who registered by mail and did not include proof of identity with your registration, you'll need to bring identification when returning your absentee ballot in person.
- Accepted ID: NM driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID, tribal ID, utility bill, bank statement, or government document showing your name and address.
**Signature Mismatch:**
- If your signature doesn't match your voter registration, your ballot may be rejected.
- You have the opportunity to cure a signature mismatch if notified by the County Clerk.
**Permanent Absentee List:**
- You can opt-in to be automatically sent an absentee ballot for every statewide election.
- This requires checking a box on your registration form or the online portal during "Step 4 – Ballot Delivery Method".
- You can remove yourself from this list at any time by contacting your County Clerk.
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## Critical Deadlines Summary
| Action | Deadline |
| --------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| Request absentee ballot (must be received) | Tuesday, October 20, 2026 |
| Ballots begin mailing | Tuesday, October 6, 2026 |
| Recommended last day to mail back ballot | Tuesday, October 27, 2026 |
| **Ballots must be received (final deadline)** | **Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 7:00 PM** |
| Election Day | Tuesday, November 3, 2026 |