The 2016 general election is here in New Mexico.
Today is the first day of early voting in some locations and is also the final day to register to vote for the general election.
Those who have not yet registered or need to update their registration can do so through the Secretary of State’s website, provided they have a driver’s license number or state identification number, through midnight or can send in a paper form through the mail. Through the mail, proofs of residency can include a utility bill, a paycheck, a student identification number, or a number of other documents.
Meanwhile, registered voters can vote early in-person or apply for absentee ballots beginning today.
The early-in person voting only takes places at county clerks’ offices or other designated areas. Early voting will expand to voting convenience centers on Oct. 22.
As of the end of September, 1,260,501 voters were registered to vote statewide. This is up slightly from the 1,255,273 who were registered to vote as of Oct. 19, 2012, ahead of the last presidential election.
As voters left the Democratic and Republican parties, the number of those who are independents or members of minor parties have grown in the last four years.
The final numbers of eligible voters in 2016 will be available when the county clerks have provided the final information to the Secretary of State’s office.
