Student Voting Information
As part of the Higher Education Amendment, New Mexico Tech provides students with information on how to register to vote.
General Voter Information
2020 U.S. General Election
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. New Mexico and most other states allow any voter to request a ballot by mail. You can also vote in person. New Mexico offers early voting.
Voting Dates and Deadlines
- Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
- The deadline to register online to vote is Tuesday, October 6, 2020.
- The deadline for registering by mail to vote is (postmarked by) Tuesday, October 6, 2020.
- The deadline to request a ballot by mail is (received by) 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
- The early voting period (in NM) runs from Saturday, October 17, 2020, to Saturday, October 31, 2020, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live.
Register and Vote in Your State
New Mexico Secretary of State Voter Registration Information
N.M. Voter Eligibility Requirements
In order to register and vote in New Mexico, an applicant must be:
- A resident of New Mexico
- A citizen of the United States
- Not legally declared mentally incapacitated
- Not a convicted felon, or a felon who has completed all of the terms and conditions of sentencing
- 18 years or older at the time of the next election
Register to Vote or Update Your Registration
You can now register and update your registration online. If you have either a current or expired New Mexico state I.D. (like a driver’s license) you can register for the first time or make changes to your registration—like name, address or party affiliation—easily using our online system.
Click here to register or update your registration online.
If you don’t have a state-issued I.D., or otherwise would prefer to register by mail, you can pick up a voter registration application form or print the national form online, fill it out, then mail it to the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office or your local County Clerk’s Office. If you are not sure where to send it, you can look it up on our website or call us at 1.800.477.3632.
If you change your name or move you must fill out a new voter registration form and submit to your local County Clerk’s Office or the Secretary of State’s Office. You must also fill out a new form if you want to change your party affiliation.
First-Time Registration By Mail
If you are registering for the first time in New Mexico, and you submit the registration form by mail, then you must submit with the form a copy of (1) a current and valid photo identification; or (2) a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, student identification card or other government document, including identification issued by an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo that shows your name and current address. If you do not submit one of these forms of identification with your mailed-in, first time registration, then you would be required to present one of the forms of identification when voting in person or absentee.
Change your Voter Registration
If you change your name or move you must fill out a new voter registration form and submit to your local County Clerk’s Office or the Secretary of State’s Office. You must also fill out a new form if you want to change your party affiliation.
Helpful Links
We also have a useful link to outside, non-partisan organizations to help you navigate the process.*
This guide offers information on registering and voting in all 50 states, breaking down myths of voting while in College, unbiased political party platforms, and information on why student votes matter.
BestColleges.com Student Voting Guide
*Disclaimer – New Mexico Tech is not affiliated with this organization and only offers these links as helpful resources. The information contained on their pages are meant to be used as a general guide and should not be a substitution for consulting with government and state election official information.
Voter Registration Specific to Socorro
Voter Resources
Other Voting Information by State
Federal & Overseas Voters (UOCAVA)
Federal Voting Assistance Program Website
Young Voters
The U.S. Census Bureau found that only 46.1% of eligible voters aged 18-29 cast a ballot in the 2016 presidential election, that’s an almost 30% smaller turnout than those over the age of 65. However, in 2016, young voters ages were the only age group to report increased turnout compared to 2012, with a reported turnout increase of 1.1 percent. All older age groups either reported small yet statistically significant turnout decreases. One driving factor behind this low turnout is that millennials are moving around the country at greater rates than ever before, switching from state to state for college and jobs. Below are some guides to help those mobile voters.
- Voting Guide for Young Voters
- How to register to vote in all 50 states
- Breaking down the myths of voting in college
- An unbiased overview of the platform issues and where each party stands
Election Information - Important Dates For Upcoming 2020 Elections
Socorro County Local Election Absentee and Early Voting
November 3, 2020 Election Day
Absentee Voting
- Will commence on Tuesday, October 6, 2020.
- Applications will be accepted through Tuesday, October 20, 2020
- Ballots will be mailed out Friday, October 30, 2020
Early In Person AB Voting in Socorro County Clerk's Office
- Will commence on Tuesday, October 6, 2020 through Saturday, October 31, 2020
- Located in Office of the County Clerk at 200 Church St. Socorro, NM
- Voting hours will be Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
- ONLY Saturday, October 31, 2020 from 10:00am- 6:00pm
Other Resources
Transportation to the Polls
- New Mexico Tech will provide shuttles service for students and employees from campus to the local voting locations (County Annex Building, 198 Neel Ave.) throughout the day on Election Days.
- Timetables and pick-up/drop-off locations will be communicated to the campus community.
- All voters in the County may vote at this location.