Secretary of State lays out voting contingency plans during wildfires

SANTA FE — Early primary voting is underway, and arrangements are in place to allow voters displaced by wildfires to cast ballots.

“It’s the start of another important election season here in New Mexico but, for the many residents who have been affected by the wildfires, it’s anything but a normal one,” said New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver. “Though the situation with the fires is rapidly evolving, my office and election administrators throughout the state have already deployed plans to help communities vote and are in the process of developing further contingencies to ensure all voter needs continue to be met.”

In-person early voting at county clerks’ offices began Tuesday, which was also the first day county clerks could begin sending absentee ballots to voters who requested one. Voters can find information about the primary election, including important deadlines, sample ballots, county clerk contact information and more at NMVOTE.ORG.

Mora County is the only county so far to have to change how early voting is administered for the 2022 primary election. Due to the fires, the Mora County Clerk’s Office has been temporarily moved to Wagon Mound City Hall, 600 Catron Ave., Wagon Mound. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and county services will be available, including in-person early voting.

However, Sandoval and other counties  are at risk of fire danger and potential disruption. For residents who live in Sandoval, San Miguel, Los Alamos or Taos counties, the Secretary of State’s Office is encouraging voters to cast ballots soon as possible in case the fire situation changes and causes disruption to county services.

For voters already displaced by the fires or who have preemptively moved away from their primary residence, the Secretary of State’s Office is encouraging them to vote by mail using an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots can be requested online and sent to the location where the voter is currently residing.

The last day to request an absentee ballot for the 2022 primary election is June 2.

The homepage of the Secretary of State’s website has information for voters affected by the wildfires and will be updated with new information as the fire situation develops.

Same-day voter registration is available, and the Secretary of State has published an FAQ webpage with further information, including about how non-major party voters can use same-day registration to participate in the primary election.